Lasta- the border between amara fi tigiree?
Posted: 14 Sep 2019, 21:59
Lasta: the border between Amara and Tigray?
''On 1814-the 5th of October, Mr. Pearce directed his course nearly due north, following the windings of the Tacazze for 8 hours, as far as Mukkine, where, from the ascension of a number of small streams, the river swells into some importance, and extends full 30 ft across. From Mukkine, on the 6th, he traveled 5 hours to Selah-Ferre, a lofty hill, lying about 8 miles from the Tacazze; and from this place, on the 7th, he proceeded six hours north by east to Socota, the reputed capital of Lasta.
This province is extremely mountainous throughout, and forms an almost impenetrable barrier between the two great divisions of Abyssinia-generally comprehended under the names of Amhara and Tigre, two passes only existing through the mountains, which are easily commanded by a small number of troops.
Mr. Pearce described the Lasta soldiers as remarkable for their horsemanship, a quality not common among mountaineers; but this in a great measure is attributable to the connexion subsisting between this province and that of Begemder, the natives of which not only pride themselves on their breed of horses, but are also distinguished by the skill with which they train them for service.
The language of the country is Amharic, and the inhabitants wear their hair long and plaited, like the natives to the south. In other respects they resemble the Oromos more than the people of Tigre, and they are considered, in general, as great boasters, though by no means deficient in courage.''
[A Voyage to Abyssinia, and Travels Into the Interior of that Country
By Henry Salt, page 270]
''On 1814-the 5th of October, Mr. Pearce directed his course nearly due north, following the windings of the Tacazze for 8 hours, as far as Mukkine, where, from the ascension of a number of small streams, the river swells into some importance, and extends full 30 ft across. From Mukkine, on the 6th, he traveled 5 hours to Selah-Ferre, a lofty hill, lying about 8 miles from the Tacazze; and from this place, on the 7th, he proceeded six hours north by east to Socota, the reputed capital of Lasta.
This province is extremely mountainous throughout, and forms an almost impenetrable barrier between the two great divisions of Abyssinia-generally comprehended under the names of Amhara and Tigre, two passes only existing through the mountains, which are easily commanded by a small number of troops.
Mr. Pearce described the Lasta soldiers as remarkable for their horsemanship, a quality not common among mountaineers; but this in a great measure is attributable to the connexion subsisting between this province and that of Begemder, the natives of which not only pride themselves on their breed of horses, but are also distinguished by the skill with which they train them for service.
The language of the country is Amharic, and the inhabitants wear their hair long and plaited, like the natives to the south. In other respects they resemble the Oromos more than the people of Tigre, and they are considered, in general, as great boasters, though by no means deficient in courage.''
[A Voyage to Abyssinia, and Travels Into the Interior of that Country
By Henry Salt, page 270]