Abyssinian nation, originally dwelling, as Mr Bruce supposes, under the line, and exercising the profession of shepherds, which they still continue to do. For a number of years, our author tells us, they have been constantly migrating northwards, though the cause of this migration is not known. At first they had no horses; the reason of which was, that the country they came from did not allow these animals to breed; but as they proceeded northward and conquered some of the Abyssinian provinces, they soon furnished themselves with such numbers, that they are now almost entirely cavalry, making little account of infantry in their armies. On advancing to the frontiers of Abyssinia, the multitude divided, and part directed their course towards the Indian Ocean; after which, having made a settlement in the eastern part of the continent, they turned southward into the countries of Bali and Dawaw, which they entirely conquered, and settled there in the year 1537. Another division having taken a westerly course, spread themselves in a semicircle along the banks of the Nile; surrounding the country of Gojam, and passing eastward behind the country of the Agows, extended their possessions as far as the territories of the Gongas and Gafats.

Since that time the Nile has been the boundary of their possessions; though they have very frequently plundered, and sometimes conquered, the Abyssinian provinces on the other side of the river, but have never made any permanent settlement in these parts. A third division has settled to the southward of the low country of Shoa, which the governor of that province has permitted, in order to form a barrier betwixt him and the territories of the emperor, on whom he scarcely acknowledges any dependence.

The Galla are of a brown complexion, and have long black hair; but some of them who live in the valleys are entirely black. At first their common food was milk and butter; but since their intercourse with the Abyssinians, they have learned to plough and sow their land, and to make bread. They seem to have a predilection for the number seven, and each of the three divisions already mentioned are subdivided into seven tribes. In their behaviour they are extremely barbarous; and live in continual war with the Abyssinians, whom they murder without mercy as often as they fall into their hands. They cut off the privities of the men, and hang them up in their houses by way of trophies; and are so cruel as to rip up women with child, in hopes of thus destroying a male. Yet notwithstanding their excessive cruelty abroad, they live under the strictest discipline at home; and every broil or quarrel is instantly punished according to the nature of the offence. Each of the three divisions of the Galla above mentioned has a king of its own; and they have also a kind of nobility, from among whom the sovereign can only be chosen: however, the commonalty are not excluded from rising to the rank of nobles if they distinguish themselves very much in battle. None of the nobility can be elected till upwards of 40 years of age, unless he has with his own hand killed a number of enemies which added to his own age makes up 40. There is a council of each of the seven tribes, which meets separately in its own district, to settle how many are to be left behind for the governing and cultivating of the territory, and other matters of importance. These nations have all a great veneration for a tree which grows plentifully in their country, called quanzy, and which these superstitious people are even said to adore as a god. Their assemblies for the choice of a king are all held under one of these trees; and when the sovereign is chosen, they put a bludgeon of this wood in his hand by way of sceptre, and a garland of the flowers upon his head.

The Galla are reported to be very good soldiers, especially in cases of surprise; but, like most other barbarians, have no constancy nor perseverance after the first attack. They will, however, perform extraordinary marches, swimming rivers holding by the horse's tail, and thus being enabled to do very great mischief by reason of the rapidity of their movements. They are excellent light-horse for a regular army in an hostile country; but are very indifferently armed on account of the scarcity of iron among them. Their principal arms are lances made of wood sharpened at the end and hardened in the fire; and their shields are composed only of one single fold of bull's hide; so that they are extremely apt to warp by heat, or become too soft in wet weather. They are exceedingly cruel; and make a shrill horrid noise at the beginning of every The Galla, according to Mr Bruce's account, are somewhat below the middle size, but extremely light and nimble. The women are fruitful; and suffer so little in child-bearing, that they do not even confine themselves for a single day after delivery. They plough, sow, and reap the corn, which is trodden out by the cattle; but the men have all the charge of the cattle in the fields. In their customs they are filthy to the last degree; plaiting their hair with the guts of oxen, which they likewise twist round their middles, and which by the quick putrefaction occasion an abominable stench. They anoint their heads and whole bodies with butter or grease; in which, as well as in other respects, they greatly resemble the Hottentots. It has been supposed that they have no religion whatever; but Mr Bruce is of opinion that this is a mistake. The wanjzye, he says, is undoubtedly worshipped by all the nations as a god; and they likewise certain stones which are worshipped as gods: besides these, they worship the moon, and some stars, when in certain positions, and at some particular seasons of the year. They all believe in a resurrection; and have some faint notions of a state of happiness, but no idea of future punishment. Some of them to the southward profess the Mahometan religion, but those to the east and west are generally pagans. All of them intermarry with each other; but will not allow strangers to live among them, though the Moors have at last found out a method of trading safely with them. The commodities they deal in are blue Surat cloths, myrrh, and salt; the last being the most valuable article.

The marriages among the Galla are celebrated with some of the disgusting customs of the Hottentots; and after these ceremonies the bridegroom promises to give the bride meat and drink while she lives, and to bury her when dead. Polygamy is allowed among them; but it is singular, that among these people the women solicit their husbands to take others to their embraces. The reason of this custom is, that the men may have numerous families of children, who may be capable of defending them against their enemies; as the Galla, according to our author, always fight in families, whether against foreign enemies or with one another.