The bark of the kantuffa reminded me of that of the red mimosa of Adal, which produced an astringent gum, something like kino, but not, I considered, so powerful a drug. This tree, however, was pointed out to me as being that with the bark of which the Dankalli tan their affaleetahs, or small water-skins, carried by travellers; for the larger ones are prepared with the hair left on, by simply drying in the hot sun, after having been distended with air, to expose them fully to its influence. It is very probable that the celebrated Morocco leather, derives its bright red colour from the bark employed in tanning being obtained either from the kantuffa or the Adal tree, for both these trees give a very red colour to the skins that are prepared with their bark. From this I am inclined to believe, that among other articles of commerce that might be advantageously drawn from the Barbar states in the north of Africa, a good tanning bark could be obtained in considerable quantities, and at a very reasonable rate.

Walderheros and the misselannee proceeded to carve the flayed carcase, not in any systematic manner, as I could observe, but directed chiefly in the size of the lumps of meat that were cut off by the character of the individual to whom they were severally assigned: thus, Tinta got a noble haunch forwarded to him, whilst, on the other hand, the matrabier, or axe, was called in to aid in dividing the other into three portions, for as many minor acquaintances of my servants. In the same manner, a certain number of ribs were counted for Gwalior, but the mother of Goodaloo got a great many more of the opposite side, and in this irregular manner, after a very busy scene of some two or three hours, except the portions which Walderheros had retained for himself, the whole of the goat had disappeared by degrees through the wicket of the inclosure, for the rain that was now commencing prevented the party from holding the festival in the garden, and I was a great deal too ill to have it celebrated within my own house.

FOOTNOTES:

[10] A singular fact connected with this custom of making a short prayer, whilst slaughtering the victim, I gathered from a note in a recent edition of “Sale’s Koran.” It appears that by a decision of those learned in the law, which is laid down in that book, animals killed by the Jews may be partaken of by Mahomedans. A representation to the Cadi of Cairo having been made, that nearly all the butchers of that city were followers of the law of Moses, they were about to be suspended from that employment, when their Chief Rabbi proved to the satisfaction of their Moslem judges, that the Koran bids Mahomedans not to refuse food which has been sanctified to the one true God, which was always done by those who professed the faith of Abraham and the law of Moses, when killing animals for food. This circumstance, and also the disrespect shown by the Whaabbees to the tomb of the Prophet, and the temple at Mecca, demonstrate to my satisfaction that education alone is required to show to the Mahomedans, the absurdity of the false hopes with which their Prophet has surrounded the worship of the only one God, and of the inapplicability of his laws to improve or humanize mankind. I could point out, if this were a proper place, proofs without end, of the liberality and extreme toleration of learned and enlightened Mahomedans, and we ought not to attribute the bigotry of ignorance, alike fierce and cruel in Christian, Mahomedan, and Jew, to their religious belief, which on examination will be found to have been originally very similar amongst all these denominations, and that the greatest differences appear to be in the several codes of social laws adopted by each.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Invitation to visit the Negoos.—​Karissa and his firelock.—​Some account of the countries to the south of Shoa.—​Distances.—​A reputed cannibal people.—​Other absurd rumours.—​Probable truth.—​Of the Doko: not dwarfs but monkeys.

August 24th.—Early this morning, Tinta appeared at my house. He had returned from Ankobar the night before, and had brought an invitation or command, that if I were able I should visit the Negoos at Debra Berhan, on the 24th of September, upon which day a great national festival is held in honour of the anniversary of the discovery of the Cross by the Empress Helena. This is called the muscal from a similar word signifying cross, and is a kind of military review, before the Negoos, of all his forces, every tenant and slave capable of bearing arms being expected to be present. It is, in fact, an Abyssinian wapentake, and its real origin, although at the present time concealed by the substitution of a religious name and purpose, may be still traced to the same social institutions that first established similar feudal parades among the older European nations. I shall dismiss the subject at present, however, with the single remark, that no Mahomedan, except he wear the matab for the occasion of the muscal, or the expeditions against the Gallas, is expected to appear as a soldier before the Negoos; the Wallasmah Mahomed having all claim upon military service from those inhabitants of Shoa who profess that religion.

With Tinta came a gunman of the Negoos’ body guard, named Karissa, with whom I was previously acquainted, and who, having injured the lock of his new musket, now came to solicit me to set it to rights, under the full impression that I had been brought up to the business. Finding on examination that a small fragment of the catch of the trigger was only broken off, which prevented it being held properly in the groove of the tumbling portion of the lock, I promised to do it for him, but as I had then no spring vice, or files, I told him he must stop until Tinta could procure them for me, which the latter promised to do in the course of the day.

Karissa was a very intelligent Galla, wore his hair in their usual wild manner, in a series of long plaited elf-locks, hanging on all sides of his head and dark brown face. His features were regular and well defined, which is not very usual among those considered to be true Galla, but as he came from Cambat to the south and east of Zingero, and as I have seen others from the same country who resembled Karissa very much, future discoveries have yet to determine to what is owing this difference in the appearance of the countenance from those whom I term Soumaulee Gallas, or the mulatto progeny of Shankalli and Dankalli parents. At present it will serve our purpose to class them as a mixed race between the Amhara and the Shankalli, or what is more probable, between the Amhara and the Soumaulee Galla.

As he sat with me all day, and it happened to be my good day, in contradistinction to the alternate evil one on which I was afflicted with the ague fit, I asked him many questions respecting his country and his parents. As I began to feel more interested in the conversation, and found that my partial knowledge of Amharic prevented me from making my visitor quite understand some of my questions, I sent Walderheros for Ibrahim, who soon came, and very readily undertook to act as interpreter and illustrator of Karissa’s information.