Posted with permission of the transcriber, Laura J. Geo. Vicissitudes of a Slave Captive in Ethiopia --- The following narrative, by a native of the village of Suppa, in Enarea, detailing the history of his capture and subsequent vicissitudes, may be taken as a fair specimen of the usual circumstances attending the transfer of the kidnapped victim from one merciless dealer to another, in his progress to Abyssinia through the interior provinces which form the focus of slavery in the north-east: --- "When 20 years of age, being engaged in tending the flocks of Betta, my father, an armed band of the Ooma Galla, with whom my tribe had long been in enmity, swept suddenly down, and took myself with six other youths prisoners, killing four more who resisted. Having been kept bound hand and foot during five days, I was sold to the Toomee Galla, one of the nearest tribes for thirty amoles (about six shilling and threepence sterling.) The bargain was concluded in the Toomee market-place, which is called Sundaffo, where, in consequence of the dearness of salt, two male slaves are commonly bought for one dollar; and, after nightfall, the Mohammedan rover, by whom I had been purchased, came and took me away. Having been kept bound in his house another week, I was taken two days journey with a large slave caravan, and sold privately to the Nono Galla for a few ells of blue calico. My companions in captivity were assorted according to their age and size, and walked in double file, the stout and able-bodies only, whereof I was one, having their hands tied behind them. In Meegra, the market-place of the Nono, I was, after six week's confinement, sold by public auction to the Agumcho Galla for forty pieces of salt, value eight shillings and fourpence. Thence I was taken to the market-place, which is beyond Sequala, on the plain of Hawash, and sold for seventy pieces of salt to the Soddo Galla, and immediately afterwards taken to Roque, the slave mart in the Yerrur district,where I was sold for one hundred amoles, being £1 sterling. From Roque I was driven to Alio Amba, in Shoa, where a Mahommedan subject of Sahela Selassie purchased me in the market of Abdel Russool for twelve dollars; but, after three months, my master falling into disgrace, the whole of his property was confiscated, and I became the slave of the Negoos, which I still am, although permitted to reside with my family, and only called upon to plough, reap, and carry wood. Exclusive of halts, the journey from my native village occupied fifteen days. I was tolerably fed and not maltreated. All the merchants through whose hand I passed were Mohammedans; and until within a few stages of Alio Amba, I was invariably bound at night, and thus found no opportunity to escape. Prior to my own enslavement, I had been extensively engaged as a kidnapper, and to this capacity had been a party in three great slave hunts into the country of the Doko negroes beyond Caffa, in the course of which four thousand individuals of both sexes were secured.---Harris's Ethiopia ******