After the death of the Abyssinian Emperor Tewodros, who died whilst being surrounded by Oromo warriors on all sides with no escape; said this:
''The destinies of Abyssinia are for the present in the hands of the Oromos. If England is to have any more dealings with Abyssinia, they will be the other ''party,'' those fierce Mohammedan tribes who have long occupied the fairest provinces intervening between Northern Abyssinia and Shoa, and who have made of Enarea and Kaffa, Oromo republics and kingdoms. A long time ago when Mr. Plowden first went on his strange and fatal mission to Abyssinia, he found it hard to understand and disentangle the records of the dismembered royalty of Ethiopia; and since then the barbarous, romantic episode of the conquests, the rule, the wild enthusiastic visions, the despair, and the death of King Tewodros/Theodore, has been added to the bewildering history.
The utter extinction in Abyssinia of the Christian faith is to be looked for, as a not distant result of the present ''innings'' of the Oromos; but it would need a fanatic to feel regret for the substitution of El-Islam, considering the utter degradation into which Christianity has fallen in those parts, and the hopeless failure of missionary efforts. The Oromos-of whom Mr. Plowden told us, in his official correspondence, laid before Parliament in August, 1866, that their man are brave and honest, and their women are beautiful, in all which particulars they present a contrast to the late king's (Tewodros) turbulent subjects; so strong a contrast, that one wonders a man of his character did not go over to his own enemies-are dividied into numerous tribes, of which the WOLLO OROMOS are the fiercest and most restless.
Among them are to be found the traditional fine horses and noble horsemanship which were among our few former associations with Abyssinia-taking rank with Bruce's living beefsteak, but pleasanter.
All the Oromo country produces good horses, and all the Oromos ride well; but the Wollo horses and men bear away the palm; the former being wonderfully active, sure-footed, fearless, excellent on un-even ground, handsome, and spirited; and the latter splendid riders, with perfect mastery over their horses, and great fondness for them.
The name given to each horse has a meaning, and great men and warriors are generally better known by the names of their horses than their own.
In the country of the Wollo oromos, the men frequently address each other as ''father of such a horse.''
If one of them is so poor as not to possess a horse, he takes the name of one as his war cry.''
[Every Saturday, Volume 6,
Ticknor and Fields, 1868
pages 507-508]
