Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 3 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773Bruce, James
History
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 3 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773
Bruce, James
Egypt -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- History; Natural history -- Ethiopia; Nile River
One thing remarkable in this cavalcade, which I observed, was the
head-dress of the governors of provinces. A large broad fillet was
bound upon their forehead, and tied behind their head. In the middle of
this was a horn, or a conical piece of silver, gilt, about four inches
long, much in the shape of our common candle extinguishers. This is
called _kirn_, or horn, and is only worn in reviews or parades after
victory. This I apprehend, like all other of their usages, is taken
from the Hebrews, and the several allusions made in scripture to it
arise from this practice:--“I said unto fools, Deal not foolishly; and
to the wicked, Lift not up the horn”--“Lift not up your horn on high;
speak not with a stiff neck[16]”--“For promotion cometh,” &c.--“But
my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn”--“And the horn
of the righteous shall be exalted with honour.” And so in many other
places throughout the Psalms.
Next to these came the king, with a fillet of white muslin about three
inches broad, binding his forehead, tied with a large double knot
behind, and hanging down about two feet on his back. About him were the
great officers of state, such of the young nobility as were without
command; and after these, the household troops.
Then followed the Kanitz Kitzera, or executioner of the camp, and his
attendants; and, last of all, amidst the King’s and the Ras’s baggage,
came a man bearing the stuffed skin of the unfortunate Woosheka upon a
pole, which he hung upon a branch of the tree before the king’s palace
appropriated for public executions.
Upon their arrival at Gondar, all the great men had waited both upon
the Ras and the King. Aylo had been with them, and Ozoro Esther was
removed to Gondar; but, by my advice, had left the child at Koscam. Her
son Confu, though recovered of the small-pox, had evident signs of a
dysentery, and took no care of himself in point of regimen, or avoiding
cold.
It was now the 13th of March,and I had heard no word from Ozoro Esther,
or the Ras, though removed to a house in Gondar near to Petros. I had
gone every day once to see the children of Koscam; at all which times I
had been received with the greatest cordiality and marks of kindness by
the Iteghé, and orders given for my free admittance upon all occasions
like an officer of her household. As to the rest, I never was in
appearance more neglected, than in this present moment, by all but the
Moors. These were very grateful for the successful attention I had
shewed their children, and very desirous to have me again among them.
Hagi Saleh, in particular, could not satiate himself with cursing the
ingratitude of these cafers, and infidels, the Christians. He knew what
had passed at Koscam, he saw what he thought likely to happen now, and
his anger was that of an honest man, and which perhaps many former
instances which he had been witness of might have justified, but in the
present one he was mistaken.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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