Blessings to all
Biniam
Arlington,Va, USA
HUNTING MAN AND BEAST IN ETHIOPIA
by Alexander Bulatovich
translated and introduced by Richard Seltzer
FINAL
I came out of my shelter. In front was heard the cracking noise, going
farther away. I am alive, and for my salvation I see only God's
Providence.
On the mountain they sang the victory song Adoy Shebae, with which the
ashkers celebrated the victory of Zelepukin, who had also killed an
elephant. The first to run to me were the Kaffa who had made off. They
knew that the elephants had gone through here. They had heard the scream
of one of them, and had expected to see my remains. They were greatly
overjoyed when they found me unharmed. Soon the triumphant Zelepukin
came with the ashkers. We measured the distance. From the place where I
sat
to the trail by which the elephants ran turned out to be seven paces;
and from the outermost tracks of the forelegs of an elephant it was just
four paces.
It was already four o'clock in the afternoon. Having entrusted
Bita-rasha to extract the tusks the next day, I hurried to rejoin the
detachment; and in the evening, we arrived at the main bivouac.
********* end of story **********
*The belt which Abyssinians wear around their waist is a long (about 14
arshins [32 feet]) band (half an arshin wide [7 inches]) of light cotton
material (which weighs about one and a half to two pounds). It is very
useful on the march. It serves as an abdominal band or girdle, uniformly
pulling in the stomach. In case of wounds, it is useful as a bandage. It
is also very convenient to carry a bandoleer in this belt.
**In this territory there are so many lions that the Abyssinians call it
Yaambasa-Myeda -- the Lion Field. Incidentally, they called the fort at
Kolu Yadagusca-Myeda -- Field of Dagusa (a type of bread grain), and the
mouth of the River Omo -- Yaakhya-Myeda, i.e., Donkey Field.
***They raise the spear high and aiming it at the opponent, they make it
vibrate by fast action of the hand.
****As hunters assert, elephants often destroy all the trees in the
place where any one of their herd has been killed. The danger from
wounded elephants is corroborated by all the travelers of Central
Africa: Prince Ruspoli fell victim to an elephant wounded by him. Count
Teleki, Cavendish, and I saved ourselves from them only by some miracle.