Travels in southern Abyssinia, Volume 2 (of 2) : $b through the country of Adal to the kingdom of Shoa — John Shaqi
Travels in southern Abyssinia, Volume 2 (of 2) : $b through the country of Adal to the kingdom of ShoaJohnston, Charles
History
Travels in southern Abyssinia, Volume 2 (of 2) : $b through the country of Adal to the kingdom of Shoa
Johnston, Charles
Ethiopia -- Description and travel; Shewa Kifle Hager (Ethiopia) -- Description and travel
_May 23._--I had scarcely opened my eyes, after the first night’s rest
in Abyssinia, when a heavy knocking at the door, and repeated calls
for me, made me get up in a great hurry to know the reason of such
a disturbance. I found the escort all in an uproar, and they pushed
past me into the house for their weapons, where they had been safely
deposited under my care, and which, as soon as they were seized, away
my friends ran, one after another, in the direction of Dinnomalee.
Ohmed Medina, who had suddenly sprung up from somewhere, sat upon his
mule in the market-place, and was shouting for me to come, whilst
one of his slaves was hastily saddling my mule also. I could not make
out what was the matter, but as the word “Galla” was in the mouth of
every one, I suspected that an attack had been made upon the stores
during the night by those marauders, and began to be afraid that I had
calculated too surely upon their being safe when at Dinnomalee.
Getting myself ready as quickly as possible, I was soon galloping along
the road, following Ohmed Medina. We stayed not a moment at Dinnomalee,
but a look satisfied my greatest anxiety; for the stores were all safe,
and I cared for nothing else, so with a mind much easier, I called
out to Ohmed Medina, for the first time, to ask what, and where the
disturbance was. He only turned his face towards me, as he called
out “Dophan,” and “Galla,” urging his mule on as he spoke, as if he
wished he had wings to fly at once to the little town of half-civilized
Wahamas, we had passed yesterday on this side of Kokki. We overtook,
and gradually left behind us, all the Hy Soumaulee, who, in a
far-apart, straggling line, were hastening to the rescue. As we came up
to each of these, a vain attempt was made to keep alongside of us, but
our pace was too good, and we entered alone the small densely-wooded
valley, then along the deep ravine, and at length pulled up on the
camping ground we had left yesterday morning, when the leading camels
of the Hy Soumaulee Kafilah came in sight, and where they had halted
for the night; the greater part of the Tajourah camels alone coming on
after us to Dinnomalee the same day.
On our arrival, preparations were being hastily made by the Kafilah
to proceed on the march to Dinnomalee; all seemed conscious they had
stayed in this place a night too long, and anxious to get away before
any other mishap should happen. Some busy talkers surrounded Ohmed
Mahomed and Ebin Izaak, who had come in a few minutes before us, and
were listening to details of the deeds of blood, the evidences of which
were five still bleeding bodies, that lay naked in different places
upon the little green sloping bank that rose from the stream, and upon
which the encampment stood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account