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THE STORY OF THE FIGHT OF SHANGERA.
Another time again the 'Ad Takles and the Habab were at enmity with each other. That Mahammad, the son of 42.Kantubay Gäweg, after his father's death, was to take vengeance for the death of his father, this it was which for a second time caused enmity between the Habab and the 'Ad Takles. And with the 'Ad Takles there were the sons of Nauraddin, the brothers of Fekak: Eshaq, Hebtes-Shangab, Hadambas, and Shawes; the head of the 'Ad Takles party was Eshaq wad Nauraddin. And the head of the Habab party was Mahammad, the son of Kantebay Gäweg. And these two parties met at a place between the 'Ad Takles country and the Habab country, called,Shangerä: there they fought and wrought havoc with each other., And Eshaq wad Nauraddin said to a slave named Hamad-Nor, son of Gamilay, of the 'Ad 'Amdoy branch, but a slave of the Habab: 'Come hither, thou slave!" But Hamad-Nör replied: 'Do not call me slave, 'Armasis (1, but call me brave ! (2)" Formerly their slave,
to-day their brave!" Then he and Eshaq broke through the lines making for cach other. Eshaq struck him with the sword and cut his side open. But Hamad-Nor with his lungs hanging out of his body cut off both legs of Eshaq, and Eshaq died on the spot. And even after that Hamad-Nor killed Hadambas wad Nauraddin. And again, the warriors of the 'Ad Takles pierced Hamad-Nor,with the spear. But even pierced as he was he killed many people; for he was brave and a clever fighter. And finally he died on the spot. For this reason do many of the bards in their songs say 'like Hamad-Nor of Shangera." And even until the present day they speak of a brave and strong man like Hamad-Nor of Shangera." And these two parties destroyed each other: there were more dead on the Habab side, but the 'Ad Takles had lost their leaders. And until the present day their tombs are in this place. Thereupon when the
two parties had returned home, the Habab said: "It is the 'Ad Takles who have wronged us, and therefore we have become enemies." Temaryam wad Gerub, a man of 'Ad Takles, sang when he heard of the talk of the Habab, the following
little song:
"Are they of guilt afraid or not afraid, the Bet-Asgade (3) of their guilt ?"
Upon us have they put [the blame for] all the blod-shed of Sangerä.
Since they have killed our brothers, since we have seen their blood,,
There is no one to give us milk, when we [now] enter their village. (4)
The noble ones are no more our brothers, nor are the bondmen our bondmen.
Our beast of burden is our shoulder, [we carry] a small measure (5) journey after journey.
Of [all] the camels no camel is ours, of [all] the donkeys [no] donkey (6):
We and the Bet Asgäde have become like a cleft rook."
Besides this, the 'Ad Takles used always to split up into parties among themselves and to ruin each other with sword and spear. Once they split and were divided into two parties: the party of Geme' wad Derar was the one; and the other was the party of Galaydos wad Ezaz. And these two parties met at a place of their country called Laba; and there they wrought havoc with each other. And at another time they destroyed each other's cattle at Cha'amur. And again at another time two parties of them destroyed each other at Ede-Atba. And again at Habaro two parties of them destroyed each other. Therefore they were always food for the sword and the spear, and everywhere they slaughtered each other. Since the (establishment of the) rule of Egypt, however, they have become people that are safe from each other and have also made, peace with all [others].
(1) The surname of Eshaq.
(2) In Tigre: do not call me slave (gaber), but mountain (daber).
(3) Here = Habab; all the Mefles are, properly speaking
(4) Gargis or Degge Gargis is the name of the main village with the 3 Maflas.
(5) An 'ebela equals about 2 ½ kilograms.
(6) Helela is the mature male donkey.
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