56 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
tant along the coast, and where he arrived af- 
ter enormous difficulties and hardships. In the 
neighbourhood of this place were encamped a 
large body of Galles, whom our traveller had 
soon an opportunity of seeing. All the accounts 
before heard of their savage habits were here 
confirmed. They expose all the children born 
when they are in a state of war, though they rear 
them in a settled state. They eat raw cow's 
flesh, and wear the entrails round their necks as 
ornaments. They shewed utter amazement at 
the view of a white man ; and pulled off the 
shoes and stockings, to ascertain that the whole 
was of the same colour. Being enraged by the 
rash speech of a Portuguese, they brandished 
their swords, and threatened to kill the whole 
party ; but a seasonable display of the power of 
fire-arms soon reduced them to mildness and sub- 
mission. 
Lobo found it necessary, with a view to his ob- 
ject of inquiring the road to Abyssinia, to wait 
upon their king. He found that monarch in a 
straw hut, somewhat larger than those of his sub- 
jects. His courtiers surrounded him, all bearing- 
staffs, that were long or short in proportion to 
their rank. As Lobo entered, these staffs were 
instantly employed in beating him back to the 
door ; and on his inquiring the motive of such 
ancourteous usage, he was assured, that this was 
