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5. The Destruction of the Bet-Abgalaj.
Dasit, son of Gäbrat, was from the Bet-Abgalaj. He sold a field to Chief Tedros for cows; he was to get the best one, and a two-toothed and a four-toothed (3) heifer. Afterwards be came to Chief Tedros, to receive the cows. The chieftain said to him: » Choose thou thyself the best one». Dasit said to him: »Select thou thyself the best one for me, 1, what understanding have I?» And chief Tedros had one cow left during the day from milking, (a cow big and beautiful) but in reality the poorest milk cow; he let this one be milked for him, and she filled a whole measure.
After he had received this one, she showed herself to be a dry cow. And Dasit said (to the chieftain: »Exchange the cow for me, she is a dry cow, and surely I sold the field to thee to be delivered from famine». Chief Tedros, however, refused, saying: »We have certainly made the choice before.» And Dasit said to his father's house: »I shall then die (4) together with chief Tedros; save ye yourselves.» And they gave no heed to it.
One day Dasit, son of Gäbrat, ground his axe and offered it for sale, saying: »An axe, an
axe!» And Ware-Sab, son of -
(1) See Littmann, Publications of the Princeton expedition to Abyssinia, Leyden 1910, 11, p. 134, note 11.
(2) Ibid II, p. 126, note 1 ; compare p. 137.
(3) A heifer of three or four years of age.
(4) "kill chief Tedros and die myself»!
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- Jagin, said to him: »What askest thou for it?» And he replied: »A shernmat" (1) Ware-Sab said to him: »Shemmat: thou mayest as well demand a big camel.» - And he said: »Camel - yes, something like it.» And he went to chief Tedros, and the latter sat there with his mantle over his head. And Dasit struck him three times on his head with his axe, and the brains ran out. And when they said to Beemnat, son of Tedros: »Thy father, Dasit has killed him», he thouglit that it was Dasit, son of Jagin, and look his weapons and went out. But afterwards they informed him that Dasit, son of Gäbrat, hid killed him. And so they beat Dasit, Gäbrat's son, to death with sticks on the very spot.
Thereupon the Ad-Gäbres and the Ad-Ajlaj arose together, and in revenge for chief Tedros massacred the whole of the Bet-Abgalaj, both small and large. But some few only were saved in some hiding place. And, furthermore, about ten escaped by flight, and in order to overtake these, they (the pursuers) broke up. And afterwards they (the former) passed a night in i village at Gas- Gamrot. When the Ad-Gäbres were informed oftheir night-quarters, they stole upon them and killed them; two of them only survived. The one, Bajraj, son of Beemnat, followed the Ad- Temarjam, and commenced the plundering together with them, and they kille Adala, son of Aggaba. And the other one, Bajraj, son of Fekrit, betook himself to Sahar. He afterwards guided the Sahars, in order that he might plunder the Mänsas. And chief Tedros fell to all their orphans with the exception of some few. He himself was tended and recovered.
6. Dissensions between the Ad-Shebot and the Mänsas.
The Ad-Zamat, while wandering, came tnrl seated themselves under the olive tree (at Gäläb). And later on came also the Ad-Shebot during their wandering, and seated tliemselves (there also). Chief Tedros, son of Edris, let porridge be cooked and sent (a servant) with orders to give it to the Ad-Zamat. The bearer, however, by mistake, gave it to the Ad-Shebot. And when Tedros bad come (out) and they were eating, he said to the servant: »Thou, unclean -
Footnote
(1) Habab rug.
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- one, did I not say to thee: Give the food to the Ad-Zamat: it was they who had come first.» The Ad-Shebot meditated vengeance for this, and went from thence, and when they came back, they plundered the Mänsas.
The Ad-Shebot one time broke up and plundered the Mänsas, while they were encamped at Marat, and captured their cattle and cut it down. They killed Asgadom, son of Tedros, and Gäbres, son of Masmar. Afterwards the Mänsas buried these their men. After that the Ad-Shebot flocked together and pitclied camp at Kora. Chief Tedros then sent a spy down to them. The spy returned and said to him: »All the Ad-Shebot, tlieir cattle and people are issmbled at Kora». Tedros said to the Mänsas: »Up with me, I shall wreak vengence on the Ad-Shebot for my son!» And all assembled: Kamel Wad-Gabaj(1) and Täsfamkel, son of Aftaj, then a young man, were there. Because they said to him (Tedros): »lt is tlie man from the Ad-Shebot, Tedros, son of Mahamud», he answered: »I do not flee before Tedros Gerub», and let his people encamp. At about the fifth hour (2) the troop made the first attack, and of the Mänsas there fell Hazot, as he was called.
Then the evening was closing in on the earth, and the troop pitched camp opposite the village, and spent the night there. And the plunderers and the villagers incensed ene another with words and called out to one another. Tedros, son of Edris, said to Tedros, son of Mahamud: »0h, Tedros, son of Mahamud! It were a dishonour, really, if thou shouldst take thyself off to night». He replied: »I, Tedros, -,on of Mahmud! (So it would), if I should not be in the fold to-morroow morning, with my cattle and my people, but have fled.» In the dawning the plunderers and the villagers rushed at one another. When they had engaged, Tedros, son of Mahamud, deserted his fold and fled. Among those mentioned by name one, who was called Hamed-ker,-son of Masmar, fell: Däsellase, son of Harshoj, killed him. And the son of Hedur, as be was killed, also fell; the son of Hedur had in the night boastingly cried out, saying: »My fine cows, my fine cows! I shall not share them with Samara Hankish.» -
Footnotes
(1)Being born on the road he was called »Son of the road».
(2) Five o' clock in tbe evening.
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- Besides these a large number of the Ad-Shebot's men fell. And cows and goats were all
collected and taken; and they came up over Hyjotat and were divided at Gänänaref. And every one, as well dependant as master, marched, with his share, into the village.
Afterwards the Mänsas watched for the Ad-Shebot, to avenge Asgadom. And the Ad-Shebot, again, watched for the Mänsas. And these two hordes found one another at Ajbaba. And while they were attacking one another-, Täkles, son of Edris, killed Albakit, son of Masmar. And the Mänsas were beaten and turned back.
The Mänsas once more arose to attack the Ad-Shebot. And the Ad-Shebot had come with its cattle to Tanfik, in front of the village Ona. Kamel Wad-Gabaj said to his followers: »Shall ye hold back the village(rs), or shall ye rob cows?» They answered: »We (shall) rob cows». And he himself sat for the village (keeping watch on it). And by massacring the cattle they put an end to them, but did not return home with any of them. When the plunderers had ascended Agaro, the relief forces from the Ad-Shebot followed in their tracks. (One of -) the Ad-Shebot called out to Kamel Wad-Gabaj (saying:) »0h, Kamel, as we are coming to thee, whither shall we send thee?
The blood shed by thee can not be counted as notliing.» He said again to them: »I await you, struggle ye up here unto me.» A man, who was called Heja-Bazaj, from Base, armed with a musket, had together with the
Ad-Sliebot, come to the reseue. And when the Mänsas recognized him, Kamel said to him in Arabic: »Thou, Heja-Bazaj, why hast thou pursued us with the Ad-Shebot? We are the gate of Base: without passing over us thou canst neither go down to Base nor up to them (Ad-Shebot). » Heja-Bazaj answered, also in Arabic: »lt is nothing. It is only powder (1). I have come to reseue, in order that they shoud not have to say about me: He did not come to help» - Afterwards the Ad- Shebot fled and returned (to their own land). (Kamel hed learned arabic once standing security at Base)
(1) e. a blank cartridge.
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Then they made (the following agreement): the Ad-Shebot (1) was betrothed to Rajat, a
daughter of chief Tedros. And the Mänsas intended to refuse them, but afterwards said: "lt is not the custom; a betrothed (girl) is not withheld" and they held the wedding. They were afterwards reconciled, and girls were given for the debt of blood.
7. The Feud between the Mänsas and the Bet-Taawke.
(This story does not end. I could not find the rest. Aida)
The Halhal people, the Ad-Harish of the Bet-Taawke (2), brought home as bride a girl from the Ad-Sotalaj, and after some time she went away from them and betook herself to the Ad- Zemat, her, mother's relatives. Of them, Edris, son of Tesfamkel, married her, and she gave birth to Tedros, Elos, Täkles and Galajdos. Now the Ad-Harish thought: »The Mänsas have married our (3) woman», and came into hostility with the Mänsas.
The Ad-Harish watched the Mänsas, and the Mänsas were on their way down to the lowlands.
The former were guarding the Cheneti path, and the Mänsas, fearing the Karerway, went down to Waas, following the Angafak path, until they entered the village. Since Kamel Wed Gabaj, having spent the rainy season in Karer, intended to go up to the highland, they said to him: »Do not take the Cheneti path, the Ad-Harish are guarding it.» But he, refusing, answered: »I, the son of the maidens (4) If I do not go by it, who (then) shall go by it?» And so he went by tlhat path up to the highland. And at Cheneti the Ad-Harish waited for him. KameI dismounted from his horse and let a man hold it, and rushing upon them thinking Whomsoever I find», he struck out, but struck a huge tassat-tree (5), which stood between him and the man. And the tassat-tree stands there even to-day, with a deep scar. And Kamel was wounded with a spear. And after having wrested….
Footnotes
(1)-It appears that the women are the common property of the whole tribe, who have the right of disposal over them.
(2) The tribe itself says Bet-Tawqe.
(3) the woman who belongs to our tribe.
(4) A war-cry referring to his bravery. He was possibly the one who accompanied and protected the girls fetching wood and water.
(5) Dodonea viseosa L.
Source: Carolina Rediviva Library, Uppsala – Sweden
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