18*2 
G A IjL A» 
Mfe seems so congruous to the natural history of mankind, should 
have been subjected from time immemorial to the unlimited authority 
of an absolute sovereign. Neither written records nor traditions 
have preserved any trace,of their ever having enjoyed a state of inde- 
pendence. On the contrary, they say they have always been sub- 
ject to khans; whose authority has been transmitted to them by 
succession, and is considered as a right perfectly safe and divine. 
Gall A . 
This is the name of a nation of Ethiopia, originally dwelling, as 
Tvlr. Bruce supposes, under the Line, and exercising the profession of 
shepherds, wlsicli they still continue to do. For many years, he says, 
they have been constantly migrating northward, though the cause of 
this migration is not known. At first they had no horses ; the reason 
of which was, that tlie country they came from did not allow the 
animals to breed ; but as they proceeded northwards, and conquered 
some of the Abyssinian provinces, they soon furnished themselves with 
such numbers, that they are now almost efitirely cavalry, and make 
little account of infantry in their armies. On advancing to the 
frontiers of Abyssinia, the multitude divided, and part directed 
their course towards the Indian ocean ; after which, having made a 
settlement in the eastern part of the continent, they turned southward 
irdo the countries of Bali and Dawar, which they entirely conquered, 
and settled there in 1537. Anolher division having taken a westerly 
course, spread themselves in a semicircle along the banks of the 
Nile, surrounding the country of Gojam, and passing eastw'ard 
behind the country of the Agows, extended their possessions as far 
as the territories of the Gongas and Gasats. Since that time the 
Nile has been the boundary of their possessions; though they have 
frequently plundered, and sometimes conquered, the Abyssinian 
j>rovinces on the other side of the river, but have never made any 
permanent settlement in these parts. x-\ third division has settled to 
the south of the low couni ry of Shoa, wirlch the governor of that 
jvrovince has permitted, in order to form a barrier betwixt him and 
the territories of the emperor, on which he scarcely acknowledges 
any dependence. The Galla are of a brown complexion, and have 
long black hair ; but some of them, who live in the valleys, are 
entirely black. At first their common food w'as milk and butter; 
but since their intercourse with the Abyssinians, they have learned 
to plough and sow their lands, and to make bread. Tliey seem to 
have a predilection for the number seven, as each of the three divisions 
above mentioned are subdivided into seven tribes. In their behaviour 
they are extremely barbarous, and live in continual war with the 
xAbyssinians, whom they murder without mercy as often as they fail 
into their hands. Yet notwithstanding their excessive cruelty abroad, 
they live under the strictest descipline at home, and every broil or 
quarrel is instantly punished according to the nature of the offence. 
Each of the three divisions of the Galla has a king of its own ; 
and they have also a kind of nobility, from among whom the sove- 
reign cun only be chosen ; however, the commonalty are not excluded 
