ABSTRACT
I stayed in this village and locality for some time for the purpose of discovering the way, especially through the pagan Gallas, two thousand of whom were living at a place three leagues inland. They had taken up residence there because of the suitability of the land to their manner of living, particularly to their raising various tame and wild animals which they breed and on which they live. This pagan tribe came from very remote lands and, although small in number, destroyed and subdued everything in their path. They were able to do this more because of the fear they inspired in others with their cruelty and ferocity rather than because of the quantity of people they brought with them. With them comes the king, whom they elect every eight years called Luba. 1 They bring their women with them, and they pay little attention to a neighbour or friend occupying their homes; nor do they pay attention to children if any are born to them while they are soldiers; for they order them to be thrown into the forest to the wild beasts, nor can anyone rescue them without undergoing the death penalty. However, when they lay down their arms and make peace, they recognize the children they produce after this and rear them as such. All of them dress in leather, the men as well as the women. They do not have a distaste for half-cooked beef, so that they do not use much firewood in preparing it. With the blood they anoint their faces, chests and arms, making certain signs. With the intestines that are left over they make small ribbons which they wear around their necks in the form of chains as a thing of elegance. They give them to their women after they are tired of wearing them, by which time they are not very fragrant.
