GALLA. 
183 
from rising to the rank of nobles, if they distinguish themselves very 
much in battle. None of the nobility can be elected till upwards of 
forty years of age, unless he has with his own hand killed such a num- 
ber of enemies, as, added to his own age, make forty. There is a 
council of each of the seven tribes, which meets separately in its own 
district, to resolve how many are to be left behind to settle and govern 
the territory, and other matters of importance. These nations have 
all a great veneration for a tree which grow's plentifully in their 
country, called w'anzey, and which these superstitious people are even 
said to adore as a god. Their assemblies for the choice of a king are 
held under one of these trees; and when the sovereign is chosen, they 
put a bludgeon of this wood into his hand by W'ay of sceptre, and a 
garland of the flowers upon his head. 
The Galia are reported to be very good soldiers, especially in cases 
of surprise ; but, like most other barbarians, have no constancy nor 
perseverance after the first attack. They W'ill, how'ever, perform 
extraordinary marches, swimming rivers, holding by the horses’ tails, 
and are tluis enabled to do very great mischief by the rapidity of 
their movements. They are excellent light-horse for a regular array 
in a hostile country, but are very indifferently aimed, on account of 
the scarcity of iron among them. Their principal arms are lancCvS 
made of wood, sharpened at the end and hardened in the fire ; and 
their shields are composed of one single fx^ld of bull’s hide, so that 
they are extremely apt to warp by heat, or to become too soft in wet 
w'eather. They are exceedingly cruel, and make a shrill and horrid 
noise at the beginning of every engagement, which greatly terrifies 
the horses, and very often the barbarous riders who oppose them. 
The Galia are somewdiat below the middle size, but extremely light 
and nimble. The wmmen are fruitful, and suffer so little in child- 
bearing, that they do not even confine themselves for a single day 
after delivery. They plough, sow, and reap the corn, which is trod- 
den out by the cattle, but the men have all the charge of the cattle* 
in the fields. In their customs, they are filthy to the last degree,, 
plaiting their hair with tlie guts of oxen, which they likewise 
twist round their middle, and which by the quick putrefaction occasion 
an abominable stench. They anoint their heads and their whole 
bodies with grease, in which, as well as in other respects, they 
greatly resemble the Hottentots. It has been supposed that they have 
no religion whatever, but Mr. Bruce is of opinion that this is a mistake. 
The wanzey, he says, is undoubtedly worshipped by all the three 
nations as a god; and they have likewise certain stones which are wor- 
shiped as gods. They worship the moon and also some starsj when in 
certain positions, and at some particular seasons of the year. They 
all believe in a resurrection, and iiave some faint notions of a state of 
happiness, but no idea of future punisliment. Some of them to the 
south profess the Mahometan religion, but those of the east and west 
are generally pagans. They all intermarry with each other, but will 
not allows strangers to live among them, though the Moors have found 
out a method of safely trading with them. The commodities they 
deal in are blue Surat cloths, myrrh, and salt, the last being the most 
valuable article. The marriages among the Galia are celebrated 
