Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/491

 THE EASTERN GALLAS. 401 nation of " Brave," and even when inferior in numbers they have frequently enough repelled the attacks of the Somali nomads, and even of regular troops. When the city of Harrar was still held by the Egyptian force^, who were con- stantly endeavouring to extend the Khedival authority over the surrounding Galla populations, the Oromo warriors, armed only with sword and dagger, were often seen hurling themselves desperately against disciplined regiments equipped with firearms. Rushing forward to the battle-cry of " Kukuku ! kukuku ! " they more than once threw the hostile forces into confusion, and even occasionally put them to flight. But like their kinsmen of the Ethiopian highlands, the eastern tribes shamefully mutilate the dead. These eastern tribes differ from the other branches of the Galla race only in a few trivial respects, and some customs borrowed from their Danakil, Somali, or Masai neighbours. In their physical appearance they show no inferiority, while their women display the same elegant proportions, the same graceful carriage, and occasionally even the same nobility of expression. The Gallas are a hound stock, not yet sapped by inherited ailments, and unlike the Somali, are a long-lived people amongst whom centenarians are by no means rare. Cheerful and impulsive, but with a well-balanced temperament, they seldom yield to their angry feelings, at least in the presence of strangers. They are a warm-hearted, kindly people, in this also favourably distinguished from tht ir Somali neighbours, amongst whom cruelty and treachery are characteristic vices. The Gallas are moreover dis- tinguished from their Somali neighbours by their cleanly habits, shown especially in their tidy, well-swept dwellings. They also display great skill in the cultiva- tion of their land, maintaining its fertility by systematic manuring and a due rotation of crops. Certainly the Gallas, although hitherto giving little or no proof of any common national sentiment, are one of the African nations which may look forward to a bright future of social progress, and even take its share in the general work of human advancement. Under the Egyptian rule, the Gallus of the Harrar district had been fain to accept as masters a number of foreign officials whose functions were almost exclu- sively restricted to the collect i n of the Government taxes. At present these same Gallas, together with a large section of those dwelling east of the Ethiopian high- lands, are subject to the sway of Menelik, King of Shoa ; lut elsewhere the tribes have maintained their primitive autonomy. The community is organised on republican principles. The administration of the commune is invariably entrusted to a council of elders, whose tnoti, or president, is charged with the executive functions. AVith him are associated the treasurer, the high priest, and the Ookn or director of the general assembly, these ministers -being usually chosen for a period of eight years. The director or " t-peaker," who presides over the public discussions, holding a wooden mace as the sign of his office, is required to keep the debate open until absolute unanimity is arrived at. All have the right of veto, as in the old Polish Diet, and the consequence is that the deliberations are frequently continued from session to session, the principle of " closure " not having yet been introduced. But once a final decision is reached, the question assumes a 128— AT