We Relieved His Apprehensions By Telling Him His Ancestors Were
Formerly All White, With Straight Hair, And Lived In A
Country
beyond the salt sea, till they crossed that sea, took possession
of Abyssinia, and are now generally known by
The name of Hubshies
and Gallas; but neither of these names was known to him.
On the east, beyond Kidi, he only knew of one clan of Wahuma, a
people who subsist entirely on meat and milk. The sportsmen of
this country, like the Wanyamuezi, plant a convolvulus of
extraordinary size by the side of their huts, and pile the jaw-
bones and horns of their spoils before, as a means of bringing
good-luck. This same flower, held in the hand when a man is
searching for anything that he has lost, will certainly bring him
to the missing treasure. In the evening, Kidgwiga, at the head
of his brave army, made one of their theatrical charges on "Bana"
with spear and shield, swearing they would never desert him on
the march, but would die to a man if it were necessary; and if
they deserted him, then might they be deprived of their heads, or
of other personal possessions not much less valuable.
Just as we were ready for crossing the river, a line of Kidi men
was descried filing through the jungle on the opposite side,
making their way for a new-moon visit to Rionga, who occasionally
leads them into battle against Ukero. The last time they fought,
two men only were killed on Kamrasi's side, whilst nine fell on
Rionga's. There was little done besides crossing, for the last
cow was brought across as sunset - the ferrying-toll for the whole
being one cow, besides a present of beads to the head officer.
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Words from 196487 to 196784
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