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Full Download pdf of (eBook PDF) Business Statistics: For Contemporary Decision Making, 8th Edition all chapter
Full Download pdf of (eBook PDF) Business Statistics: For Contemporary Decision Making, 8th Edition all chapter
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BRIEF CONTENTS
UNIT I INTRODUCTION
1 Introduction to Statistics 02
2 Charts and Graphs 18
3 Descriptive Statistics 52
4 Probability 98
APPENDICES
A Tables 783
B Answers to Selected Odd-Numbered Quantitative
Problems 823
GLOSSARY 833
INDEX 843
vi
CONTENTS
vii
viii Contents
Decision Dilemma: Forecasting Air Pollution 609 16 Analysis of Categorical Data 664
15.1 Introduction to Forecasting 610 Decision Dilemma: Selecting Suppliers in the Electronics
Time-Series Components 610 Industry 665
The Measurement of Forecasting Error 611 16.1 Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit Test 666
Error 611
16.2 Contingency Analysis: Chi-Square Test
Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) 611
of Independence 674
Mean Square Error (MSE) 612
Summary 683
15.2 Smoothing Techniques 614
Key Terms 683
Naïve Forecasting Models 614
Formulas 683
Averaging Models 615
Simple Averages 615 Supplementary Problems 683
Moving Averages 615 Analyzing the Database 685
Weighted Moving Averages 617 Case: Foot Locker in the Shoe Mix 685
Exponential Smoothing 619 Using the Computer 686
Contents xiii
The eighth edition of Business Statistics for Contemporary Decision Making continues the
tradition of presenting and explaining the wonders of business statistics through the use of
clear, complete, student-friendly pedagogy. The author and Wiley have vast ancillary
resources available through WileyPLUS with which to complement the text in helping
instructors effectively deliver this subject matter and in assisting students in their learning.
With WileyPLUS instructors have far greater latitude in developing and delivering their
course than ever before.
In this edition, several changes have been made in an effort to improve the delivery
and completeness of the text. While no new sections or chapters have been added to the
text, there have been two topical changes. In Chapter 6, a new topic “Using Probabilities to
Solve for the Mean, the Standard Deviation, or an x Value in a Normal Distribution”
explains how to solve problems in which students are required to use their normal curve
skills to work problems “backwards” to find an unknown mean, standard deviation, or
x value using the standard normal distribution table. In addition, in Chapter 9, the more
standard and well-known eight-step approach to testing hypotheses replaces the HTAB
system of testing hypotheses. From Chapter 9 on through Chapter 17, all hypothesis
testing demonstration problems and examples are given within the framework of the eight-
step approach.
In the eighth edition, all the features of the seventh edition have been updated and
changed as needed to reflect today’s business world. Three new Decision Dilemmas
located in Chapters 8, 9, and 10 have been added to the eighth edition. Chapter 8, which
introduces the student to estimation, opens with a new Decision Dilemma titled
“Batteries and Bulbs: How Long Do They Last?” Chapter 9 presents a very exciting new
Decision Dilemma, “Valero Refining and Retailing,” about the Valero Energy
Corporation, which is a major success story in both refining and retailing. Chapter 10
contains a Decision Dilemma on “L. L. Bean” as a highly successful catalog and online
retailer.
Every chapter in the eighth edition contains at least one or two Thinking Critically
About Statistics in Business Today features that give real-life examples of how the statis-
tics presented in the chapter apply in the business world today. Each of these contains
thought-provoking questions called Things to Ponder in which the objective is to effect
critical thinking on behalf of the student and generate discussion involving critical think-
ing in the classroom. Some of these include: “Plastic Bags vs. Bringing Your Own in
Japan,” “Where Are Soft Drinks Sold?,” “Recycling Statistics,” “Probabilities in the Dry
Cleaning Business,” “Warehousing,” and “Teleworking Facts.”
This edition is designed and written for a two-semester introductory undergradu-
ate business statistics course or an MBA-level introductory course. In addition, with
19 chapters, the eighth edition lends itself nicely to adaptation for a one-semester introduc-
tory business statistics course. The text is written with the assumption that the student has
a college algebra mathematical background. No calculus is used in the presentation of
material in the text.
An underlying philosophical approach to the text is that every statistical tool presented
in the book has some business application. While the text contains statistical rigor, it is
written so that the student can readily see that the proper application of statistics in the
business world goes hand-in-hand with good decision making. In this edition, statistics are
presented as a means for converting data into useful information that can be used to assist
the business decision maker in making more thoughtful, information-based decisions.
Thus, the text presents business statistics as “value-added” tools in the process of convert-
ing data into useful information.
CHANGES FOR THE EIGHTH EDITION
Topical Changes
Sections and topics from the seventh edition remain virtually unchanged in the eighth
edition, with two exceptions. In Section 6.2 of Chapter 6, there is a new topic, “Using
Probabilities to Solve for the Mean, the Standard Deviation, or an x Value in a Normal
Distribution.” This topic explains more formally how to understand and work examples
and problems presented in previous editions in which student’s were required to use their
normal curve skills to solve problems “backwards” for an unknown mean, standard devia-
tion, or x value using the standard normal distribution table.
In Chapter 9, the more standard and well-known eight-step approach to testing
hypotheses replaces the HTAB system of testing hypotheses. From Chapter 9 on through
Chapter 17, all hypothesis testing demonstration problems and examples are given within
the framework of the eight-step approach.
Chapter 9 presents a very exciting new Decision Dilemma, “Valero Refining and
Retailing,” about the Valero Energy Corporation, which is a major success story in both
refining and retailing. Besides giving historical background on the company that did not
exist until 1980, the Decision Dilemma yields statistics on refining and the weight of crude
oil. In addition, there is discussion on aspects of Valero’s nearly 7,000 retail gas stations.
In the managerial and statistical questions, the student is asked to develop at least four
research hypotheses about why an oil refinery might be running below capacity. When
given some statistics on the weight of a barrel of crude oil, students are asked to “test to
determine if the average weight of a given shipment of crude oil is the same as or differ-
ent from 320 pounds.” Students are also asked to test to determine if the average in-store
transaction for a convenience store is now higher than the $7.47 figure published in
Convenience Store News.
In Chapter 10, we present a Decision Dilemma on a company, L. L. Bean, that is pri-
marily a catalog and online retailer. L. L. Bean of Freeport, Maine, started out as a one-man
operation in 1912 selling hunting boots and has been built into a catalog operation that
ships catalogs to all 50 states and over 160 countries, with over 11 million customer con-
tacts per year. In this Decision Dilemma, facts and figures are given on customer contacts,
orders placed online, the average order size, and the time that L. L. Bean’s e-commerce site
home page takes to load. In the managerial and statistical questions, students are asked
such questions as, “Given two samples, one taken during the day and the other at night,
how would a statistician go about testing if night loading is faster given statistics on com-
puter uploads done in the day and at night?” and, “Is the average order size for women
greater than the average order size for men?”
Cases
Every chapter in this text contains a unique business case. All cases in the eighth edition
have been updated and edited for today’s market. These business cases are more than just
long problems, and in the discussion that follows the business scenario, several issues and
questions are posed that can be addressed using techniques presented in the chapter. Here
are some excerpts from one case, “The Container Store”:
Preface xvii
“In the late 1970s, Kip Tindell (chairman and CEO), Garrett Boone (Chairman
Emeritus), and John Mullen (architect) drew up plans for a first-of-its-kind retail store spe-
cializing in storage solutions for both the home and the office. The vision that they created
was realized when on July 1, 1978, the Container Store opened its doors in a small 1,600
square foot retail space in Dallas. The store was stocked with products that were devoted to
simplifying people’s lives, such as commercial parts bins, wire drawers, mailboxes, milk
crates, wire leaf burners, and many others. Some critics even questioned that a store selling
“empty boxes” could survive. However, the concept took off, and in the past 33 years, the
company has expanded coast to coast in the United States with stores in 49 locations. Now
headquartered in Coppell, Texas, the Container Store has 4,000 employees and annual rev-
enues of over $650 million. Besides their innovative product mix, one of the keys to the
success of the Container Store is the enthusiasm with which their employees work, the care
that employees give to the customer, and employee knowledge of their products.”
New Problems
Every problem in the seventh edition has been examined for timeliness, appropriateness, and
logic before inclusion in the eighth edition. Those that fell short were replaced or rewritten.
In the eighth edition, there are 10 new problems bringing the total number of practice prob-
lems in the text to about 965.
All demonstration problems and example problems were thoroughly reviewed and
edited for effectiveness. A demonstration problem is an extra example containing both a
problem and its solution and is used as an additional pedagogical tool to supplement expla-
nations and examples in the chapters. Virtually all example and demonstration problems in
the eighth edition are business oriented and contain the most current data available.
As with the previous edition, problems are located at the end of most sections in the
chapters. A significant number of additional problems are provided at the end of each
chapter in the Supplementary Problems. The Supplementary Problems are “scrambled”—
problems using the various techniques in the chapter are mixed—so that students can test
themselves on their ability to discriminate and differentiate ideas and concepts. In addi-
tion, there are 10 new demonstration problems in the eighth edition.
Databases
Available with the eighth edition are nine databases that provide additional opportunities for
students to apply the statistics presented in this text. These nine databases represent a wide
variety of business areas, such as agribusiness, consumer spending, energy, finance, healthcare,
international labor, manufacturing, and the stock market. Altogether, these databases contain
61 variables and 7,722 observations. The data are gathered from such reliable sources as the
U.S. government’s Bureau of Labor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American
Hospital Association, the Energy Information Administration, Moody’s Handbook of Common
Stocks, and the U.S. Census Bureau. Five of the nine databases contain time-series data. The
databases are 12-Year Gasoline Database, Consumer Food Database, Manufacturing Database,
International Labor Database, Financial Database, Energy Database, U.S. and International
Stock Market Database, Hospital Database, and Agribusiness Time-Series Database.
An exciting feature of the eighth edition package that will impact the effectiveness of
student learning in business statistics and significantly enhance the presentation of course
material is the series of videotape tutorials by Ken Black. With the advent of online busi-
ness statistics courses, increasingly large class sizes, and the number of commuter students
who have very limited access to educational resources on business statistics, it is often dif-
ficult for students to get the learning assistance they need to bridge the gap between theory
and application on their own. There are now 21 videotaped tutorial sessions on key diffi-
cult topics in business statistics delivered by Ken Black and available for all adopters on
xviii Preface
WileyPLUS. In addition, these tutorials can easily be uploaded for classroom usage to aug-
ment lectures and enrich classroom presentations. Because there is at least one video for
each of the first 12 chapters, the instructor has the option to include at least one video in the
template of each chapter’s plan for most, if not all, of the course. While the video tutorials
vary in length, a typical video is about 10 minutes in length. The 21 video tutorials are:
1. Chapter 1: Levels of Data Measurement
2. Chapter 2: Stem-and-Leaf Plot
3. Chapter 3: Computing Variance and Standard Deviation
4. Chapter 3: Understanding and Using the Empirical Rule
5. Chapter 4: Constructing and Solving Joint Probability Tables
6. Chapter 4: Solving Probability Word Problems
7. Chapter 5: Solving Binomial Distribution Problems, Part I
8. Chapter 5: Solving Binomial Distribution Problems, Part II
9. Chapter 6: Solving Problems Using the Normal Curve
10. Chapter 7: Solving for Probabilities of Sample Means Using the z Statistic
11. Chapter 8: Confidence Intervals
12. Chapter 8: Determining Which Inferential Technique to Use:
Confidence Intervals
13. Chapter 9: Hypothesis Testing Using the z Statistic
14. Chapter 9: Establishing Hypotheses
15. Chapter 9: Understanding p-Values
16. Chapter 9: Type I and Type II errors
17. Chapter 9: Two-Tailed Tests
18. Chapter 10: Hypothesis Tests of the Difference in Means of Two Independent
Populations Using the t Statistic
19. Chapter 11: Computing and Interpreting a One-Way ANOVA
20. Chapter 12: Testing the Regression Model I—Predicted Values, Residuals, and
Sum of Squares of Error
21. Chapter 12: Testing the Regression Model II—Standard Error of the Estimate
and r 2
Each chapter of the eighth edition contains sections called Learning Objectives, a Decision
Dilemma, Demonstration Problems, Section Problems, Thinking Critically About Statistics
in Business Today, Decision Dilemma Solved, Chapter Summary, Key Terms, Formulas,
Ethical Considerations, Supplementary Problems, Analyzing the Databases, Case, Using the
Computer, and Computer Output from both Excel 2013 and Minitab Release 16.
■ Learning Objectives. Each chapter begins with a statement of the chapter’s main
learning objectives. This statement gives the reader a list of key topics that will be
discussed and the goals to be achieved from studying the chapter.
■ Decision Dilemma. At the beginning of each chapter, a short case describes a real
company or business situation in which managerial and statistical questions are
raised. In most Decision Dilemmas, actual data are given and the student is asked
to consider how the data can be analyzed to answer the questions.
■ Demonstration Problems. Virtually every section of every chapter in the eighth
edition contains demonstration problems. A demonstration problem contains
both an example problem and its solution, and is used as an additional pedagogi-
cal tool to supplement explanations and examples.
■ Section Problems. There are over 960 problems in the text. Problems for practice
are found at the end of almost every section of the text. Most problems utilize real
data gathered from a plethora of sources. Included here are a few brief excerpts
Preface xix
from some of the real-life problems in the text: “The Wall Street Journal reported
that 40% of all workers say they would change jobs for ‘slightly higher pay.’ In
addition, 88% of companies say that there is a shortage of qualified job candidates.”
“In a study by Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the Nasdaq Stock Market, it
was determined that 20% of all stock investors are retired people. In addition, 40%
of all U.S. adults have invested in mutual funds.” “A survey conducted for the
Northwestern National Life Insurance Company revealed that 70% of American
workers say job stress caused frequent health problems.” “According to Padgett
Business Services, 20% of all small-business owners say the most important advice
for starting a business is to prepare for long hours and hard work. Twenty-five
percent say the most important advice is to have good financing ready.”
■ Thinking Critically About Statistics in Business Today. Every chapter in the
eighth edition contains at least one Thinking Critically About Statistics in Business
Today feature. These focus boxes contain an interesting application of how techniques
of that particular chapter are used in the business world today and ask probing
questions of the student. They are usually based on real companies, surveys, or
published research.
■ Decision Dilemma Solved. Situated at the end of the chapter, the Decision
Dilemma Solved feature addresses the managerial and statistical questions raised
in the Decision Dilemma. Data given in the Decision Dilemma are analyzed
computationally and by computer using techniques presented in the chapter.
Answers to the managerial and statistical questions raised in the Decision Dilemma
are arrived at by applying chapter concepts, thus bringing closure to the chapter.
■ Chapter Summary. Each chapter concludes with a summary of the important
concepts, ideas, and techniques of the chapter. This feature can serve as a preview
of the chapter as well as a chapter review.
■ Key Terms. Important terms are bolded and their definitions italicized throughout
the text as they are discussed. At the end of the chapter, a list of the key terms from
the chapter is presented. In addition, these terms appear with their definitions in the
end-of-book glossary.
■ Formulas. Important formulas in the text are highlighted to make it easy for a
reader to locate them. At the end of the chapter, most of the chapter’s formulas are
listed together as a handy reference.
■ Ethical Considerations. Each chapter contains an Ethical Considerations feature
that is very timely, given the serious breach of ethics and lack of moral leadership
of some business executives in recent years. With the abundance of statistical data
and analysis, there is considerable potential for the misuse of statistics in business
dealings. The important Ethical Considerations feature underscores this potential
misuse by discussing such topics as lying with statistics, failing to meet statistical
assumptions, and failing to include pertinent information for decision makers.
Through this feature, instructors can begin to integrate the topic of ethics with
applications of business statistics. Here are a few excerpts from Ethical Considerations
features: “It is unprofessional and unethical to draw cause-and-effect conclusions
just because two variables are correlated.” “The business researcher needs to
conduct the experiment in an environment such that as many concomitant variables
are controlled as possible. To the extent that this is not done, the researcher has an
ethical responsibility to report that fact in the findings.” “The reader is warned that
the value lambda is assumed to be constant in a Poisson distribution experiment.
Business researchers may produce spurious results if the value of lambda is used
throughout a study, but because the study is conducted during different time
periods, the value of lambda is actually changing.” “In describing a body of data
to an audience, it is best to use whatever statistical measures it takes to present
a ‘full’ picture of the data. By limiting the descriptive measures used, the business
researcher may give the audience only part of the picture and skew the way the
receiver understands the data.”
■ Supplementary Problems. At the end of each chapter is an extensive set of
additional problems. The Supplementary Problems are divided into three groups:
xx Preface
Calculating the Statistics, which are strictly computational problems; Testing Your
Understanding, which are problems for application and understanding; and
Interpreting the Output, which are problems that require the interpretation and
analysis of software output.
■ Analyzing the Databases. There are nine major databases located on the student
companion Web site that accompanies the eighth edition and in WileyPLUS.
The end-of-chapter Analyzing the Databases section contains several questions/
problems that require the application of techniques from the chapter to data in
the variables of the databases. It is assumed that most of these questions/problems
will be solved using a computer.
■ Case. Each chapter has an end-of-chapter case based on a real company. These
cases give the student an opportunity to use statistical concepts and techniques
presented in the chapter to solve a business dilemma. Some cases feature very
large companies—such as Shell Oil, Coca-Cola, or Colgate Palmolive. Others
pertain to small businesses—such as Virginia Semiconductor, Delta Wire, or
DeBourgh—that have overcome obstacles to survive and thrive. Most cases include
raw data for analysis and questions that encourage the student to use several of
the techniques presented in the chapter. In many cases, the student must analyze
software output in order to reach conclusions or make decisions.
■ Using the Computer. The Using the Computer section contains directions for
producing the Excel 2013 and Minitab Release 16 software output presented in the
chapter. It is assumed that students have a general understanding of a Microsoft
Windows environment. Directions include specifics about menu bars, drop-down
menus, and dialog boxes. Not every detail of every dialog box is discussed; the
intent is to provide enough information for students to produce the same
statistical output analyzed and discussed in the chapter. The eighth edition has
a strong focus on both Excel and Minitab software packages. More than 250 Excel
2013 or Minitab Release 16 computer-generated outputs are displayed.
WILEYPLUS
WileyPLUS is a powerful online tool that provides instructors and students with an inte-
grated suite of teaching and learning resources, including an online version of the text, in
one easy-to-use Web site. To learn more about WileyPLUS and view a demo, please visit
www.wileyplus.com.
■ Ebook. The complete text is available on WileyPLUS with learning links to various
features and tools to assist students in their learning.
■ Videos. There are 21 videos of the author explaining concepts and demonstrating
how to work problems for some of the more difficult topics.
■ Applets. Statistical applets are available, affording students the opportunity to
learn concepts by iteratively experimenting with various values of statistics and
parameters and observing the outcomes.
■ Learning Activities. There are numerous learning activities to help the student
better understand concepts and key terms. These activities have been developed to
make learning fun, enjoyable, and challenging.
■ Data Sets. Virtually all problems in the text along with the case problems and the
databases are available to students in both Excel and Minitab format.
■ Animations. To aid students in understanding complex interactions, selected
figures from the text that involve dynamic activity have been animated using Flash
technology. Students can download these animated figures and run them to
improve their understanding of dynamic processes.
■ Flash Cards. Key terms will be available to students in flash card format along
with their definition.
■ Student Study Manual. Complete solutions to all odd-numbered questions.
■ Demo Problems. Step-by-step solved problems for each chapter.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
John Wiley & Sons and I would like to thank the reviewers and advisors who cared enough
and took the time to provide us with their excellent insights and advice, which was used to
reshape and mold the text into the eighth edition. These colleagues include: Lihui Bai,
Valparaiso University; Pam Boger, Ohio University; Parag Dhumal, Winona State University;
Bruce Ketler, Grove City College; Peter Lenk, University of Michigan—Ann Arbor; Robert
Montague, Southern Adventist University; Robert Patterson, Penn State University—Behrend;
Victor Prybutok, University of North Texas; Nikolai Pulchritudoff, California State
University—Los Angeles; Ahmad Saranjam, Northeastern University; Vijay Shah, West
Virginia University; Daniel Shimshak, University of Massachusetts—Boston; Cheryl Staley,
Lake Land College—Mattoon; Debbie Stiver, University of Nevada—Reno; Minghe Sun,
University of Texas—San Antonio; Osnat Stramer, University of Iowa; Eric Howington,
Valdosta State University; Michael Posner, Villanova University; Charu Sinha, Chapman
University; Lloyd Jaisingh, Morehead State University; Linda Dawson, University of
Washington; Lee Revere, University of Texas School of Public Health; Thomas Vadakkeveetil,
George Washington University & Johns Hopkins University; Courtney Pham, Missouri State
University; Rick Szal, Northern Arizona University.
As always, I wish to recognize my colleagues at the University of Houston–Clear Lake
for their continued interest and support of this project. In particular, I want to thank
William Staples, president; Carl Stockton, provost; and Ted Cummings, dean of the School
of Business for their personal interest in the book and their administrative support. A spe-
cial thanks goes to Brent Goucher, my videographer, for his guidance, artistic direction, and
patience in filming the videos.
There are several people within the John Wiley & Sons publishing group whom I would
like to thank for their invaluable assistance on this project. These include: Franny Kelly,
Brian Kamins, Allie Morris, Greg Chaput, Lise Johnson, Jacqueline Hughes, and Erin Ault.
I want to express a special appreciation to my wife of 45 years, Carolyn, who is the love
of my life and continues to provide both professional and personal support in my writing.
Thanks also to my daughters, Wendi and Caycee, for their patience, love, and support.
—Ken Black
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ken Black is currently professor of decision sciences in the School of Business at the
University of Houston–Clear Lake. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and raised in
Missouri, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Graceland University, a mas-
ter’s degree in math education from the University of Texas at El Paso, a Ph.D. in
business administration (management science), and a Ph.D. in educational research from
the University of North Texas.
Since joining the faculty of UHCL in 1979, Professor Black has taught all levels of
statistics courses, forecasting, management science, market research, and production/
operations management. In 2005, he was awarded the President’s Distinguished Teaching
Award for the university. He has published over 20 journal articles and 20 professional
papers, as well as two textbooks: Business Statistics: An Introductory Course and Business
Statistics for Contemporary Decision Making. Black has consulted for many different compa-
nies, including Aetna, the city of Houston, NYLCare, AT&T, Johnson Space Center, Southwest
Information Resources, Connect Corporation, and Eagle Engineering.
Ken Black and his wife, Carolyn, have two daughters, Caycee and Wendi. His hobbies
include playing the guitar, reading, and traveling.
xxiii
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Travels in
southern Abyssinia, Volume 2 (of 2)
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
you are located before using this eBook.
Language: English
SOUTHERN ABYSSINIA,
through
to
by
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
J. MADDEN AND CO., LEADENHALL STREET.
m dccc xliv.
macintosh, printer,
great new street, london.
CONTENTS TO VOL. II.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
Water cure.—Nearly killed by it.—Ordered to leave Shoa.— 126
Proceed to Angolahlah.—Courteous treatment of the
officers of the Negoos.—Entertainment.—Remarks upon
the character of Sahale Selassee.—The Mahomedan
religion.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXIII.
CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXVI.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
erratum.
Page 106, 14 lines from bottom, transpose the words Apis and Serapis, with Abi
and Assabi of the next line.
TRAVELS IN SOUTHERN ABYSSINIA,
etc.
CHAPTER I.
Staying at Farree.—Alarm of Galla attack.—Return to Kokki.—
Women of Kafilah carried into slavery.—Five Gallas killed.—
Triumph of Hy Soumaulee victors.—Return to Dinnomalee.—The
Wallasmah Mahomed.—Seizure of the letters.—Return to Farree.
May 23.—I had scarcely opened my eyes, after the first night’s rest
in Abyssinia, when a heavy knocking at the door, and repeated calls
for me, made me get up in a great hurry to know the reason of such
a disturbance. I found the escort all in an uproar, and they pushed
past me into the house for their weapons, where they had been
safely deposited under my care, and which, as soon as they were
seized, away my friends ran, one after another, in the direction of
Dinnomalee. Ohmed Medina, who had suddenly sprung up from
somewhere, sat upon his mule in the market-place, and was
shouting for me to come, whilst one of his slaves was hastily
saddling my mule also. I could not make out what was the matter,
but as the word “Galla” was in the mouth of every one, I suspected
that an attack had been made upon the stores during the night by
those marauders, and began to be afraid that I had calculated too
surely upon their being safe when at Dinnomalee.
Getting myself ready as quickly as possible, I was soon galloping
along the road, following Ohmed Medina. We stayed not a moment
at Dinnomalee, but a look satisfied my greatest anxiety; for the
stores were all safe, and I cared for nothing else, so with a mind
much easier, I called out to Ohmed Medina, for the first time, to ask
what, and where the disturbance was. He only turned his face
towards me, as he called out “Dophan,” and “Galla,” urging his mule
on as he spoke, as if he wished he had wings to fly at once to the
little town of half-civilized Wahamas, we had passed yesterday on
this side of Kokki. We overtook, and gradually left behind us, all the
Hy Soumaulee, who, in a far-apart, straggling line, were hastening to
the rescue. As we came up to each of these, a vain attempt was
made to keep alongside of us, but our pace was too good, and we
entered alone the small densely-wooded valley, then along the deep
ravine, and at length pulled up on the camping ground we had left
yesterday morning, when the leading camels of the Hy Soumaulee
Kafilah came in sight, and where they had halted for the night; the
greater part of the Tajourah camels alone coming on after us to
Dinnomalee the same day.
On our arrival, preparations were being hastily made by the
Kafilah to proceed on the march to Dinnomalee; all seemed
conscious they had stayed in this place a night too long, and anxious
to get away before any other mishap should happen. Some busy
talkers surrounded Ohmed Mahomed and Ebin Izaak, who had come
in a few minutes before us, and were listening to details of the deeds
of blood, the evidences of which were five still bleeding bodies, that
lay naked in different places upon the little green sloping bank that
rose from the stream, and upon which the encampment stood.
Carmel Ibrahim and another of my escort were busy paring the
skin of a goat, just killed, into the little twisted “symbil,” or ornaments,
with which it is usual to adorn the head, wrists, ankles, and also the
weapons of warriors who have slain a foe. Whilst thus employed,
they sung in a sharp falsetto voice some song of triumph, their
voices being elevated considerably, as every fresh comer from
Dinnomalee arrived. Above us, to the left, the inhabitants of the little
town were making sad lamentations, and loud sobbing cries over the
dead body of one of their people who had been killed in the
engagement.
From what we were now told, it appeared that a little before
sunrise, several women of the Kafilah had gone down to a place at
some distance from the camp, where the little stream spread out into
a pool, to fill their affaleetahs and gourd-shells with water for the
march. Here they were seized by a large body of Hittoo Gallas, who,
during the night, had approached the Kafilah, and were lying
concealed in this situation, awaiting for the camels to be loaded, so
that after an attack they might drive them with their loads quickly
away. On being discovered, the greater part seized the women and
carried them away at once, whilst another body rushed over the little
stream hoping still to be able to surprise the Kafilah before the men
had assembled for its protection. One Dophanter man, who had
followed the women, attempted to escape by running towards the
camp, but a pursuing Galla launched his spear, and transfixed him
through the back, so that a wound was visible under the breast,
corresponding to the much larger one in the back. His cries,
however, called the Hy Soumaulee to arms, of whom more than four
times the number of the Galla collected immediately, and before the
latter were aware of the strength of the party they were about to
attack, they were too near to escape some retributive punishment.
Immediately the Hy Soumaulee saw them commencing to retire, they
were on their feet, following them fast down the little slope to the
brook, and succeeded in killing five of the daring robbers, before
they could ascend the opposite bank. The rest made good their
retreat to the main body, who had now got some distance with the
women, and together formed a force far too great for the Hy
Soumaulee people to hope to attack it with advantage. They were
obliged, therefore to halt, form a semicircular squatting line, and be
passive spectators of their women, seven of whom belonged to the
Kafilah, and three to the town of Dophan, being carried away into
captivity.
Three Gallas were killed by spears, the others had been stabbed
in the throat and chest, and probably died fighting fairly enough.
Carmel Ibrahim was one happy man-slayer, and also the brother of
Moosa, and they kept up their song of triumph all the time we stayed
here, except when they took me to see the bodies of those they had
killed. I observed that the Dankalli do not practise the brutal custom
of disfiguring the slain, so common among the Amhara at the
present time, and which was also a characteristic of Jewish warfare.
The arms and shields, not only of the Gallas who had been killed,
but also numerous others that the fugitives had thrown away, fell to
the lot of those who picked them up in the latter case, and to the
victors in the former. Two of the other successful Hy Soumaulee
were so busy fixing in their own belts the newly-obtained knives,
which were much better than their own, that they did not attempt to
raise the song, like Carmel and his friend, who, perhaps, only did it
to attract my attention. Ohmed Medina informed me that I must give
them a present, and upon my asking why, he said it was the custom
for masters so to reward brave servants. He assured me that the
chief of the town of Dophan had already given them a goat, and that
the Wallasmah would also do the same. Seeing that it was the
general custom, and as they had only been doing their duty, not as
aggressors, but as men defending their wives and property, I
promised them a bullock. On my doing this they would insist upon
decorating my head with a symbil, or wreath of twisted goatskin, like
themselves, but I managed to induce them at last to place it on my
hat instead. Before we left the ground, I asked Ohmed Medina, if the
dead Gallas would be buried. He looked at me, rather astonished at
the question, but thinking, I suppose, that I knew no better, he said,
very shortly, “Koran yahklur” (the ravens will eat them).
Our curiosity being satisfied, we now followed the camels, already
some distance on their way to Dinnomalee, conversing as we rode
along upon the events of the morning. The Hy Soumaulee men were
too excited to think of the captive girls taken from amongst them
never to return, but several of the women of the Kafilah I noticed with
tear-shot eye mourning the loss of some friend or relation. No usual
occupation, such as plaiting the palm leaf into a broad ribbon, to be
sewed afterwards into mats, filled their hands, no familiar salutations
as I passed by enlivened the way with smiles, but each with a long
rope fastened around the under jaw of a camel led strings of five or
six of these animals, that followed in their peculiarly quiet manner,
the path their sorrowing conductress pursued.
Myself and others of the party who were mounted soon went a-
head, and had it not been for repeated stoppages on the road to
relate to those still coming, all we had learned of the deed of blood,
we should have returned to Dinnomalee by ten o’clock; as it was, the
sun had passed the meridian when we arrived, and we found there
an equally busy scene, but of a very different character, to the one
we had been partial witnesses of at Dophan.
During our absence the Wallasmah Mahomed, attended by his
brother, two sons, his scribe, and a whole host of armed followers,
had come into Farree, and just at the moment we passed the first
trees on our side that inclosed the open space where stood the
stores, salt, and merchandise of our Kafilah, that officer and his party
emerged from the jungly wood opposite; the Wallasmah riding upon
a mule, the rest walking, and among these the bearers of the silver
mounted shield, and the silver sword of office were most
conspicuous.
The Wallasmah Mahomed, the hereditary Prince or Governor of
Efat, imbodied my idea of a dull, sensual, yet cunning man. There
was nothing in his countenance to recommend him; bloated, with a
heavy stupid expression, a little relieved certainly by small restless
eyes that glanced at me whenever he thought I was not looking at
him. Perhaps his fleshy turned up nose might be termed by some
physiognomists an aspiring feature, and his chubby mouth, from
having lost all his teeth, or nearly so, was continually mumbling
something or other, or else munching a little branch of wormwood. I
will not charge him with being actually sober, nor would he, I think,
have sworn upon the Koran that he was so himself; but a bad
headache was pleaded for the narrow rag of blue cotton that bound
a large fresh green leaf upon his forehead. This application, I was
told, was to produce a sense of coolness in the part affected, and to
aid its effects it was frequently wetted by an attendant with water
from a gourd shell, carried for this purpose.
On my going up to speak to the old gentleman, who had already
seated himself upon a mat in the round shade of one of the trees, he
very politely drew up his legs more under him, and invited me with a
wave of his hand to be seated by his side. An inspection of my
carabine immediately followed this; putting it up to his shoulder he
glanced his eye along the barrels, and then turned round, with a nod
and a sly wink, as if he wished me to believe that he knew all about
it. He now asked, through Ohmed Medina, if I had any letters, and
never supposing that they would be taken from me, I told him there
were two packets which I must deliver to the British Embassy at
Ankobar that day if possible. Saying this, I got up, and pointing to the
sun intimated that it would be too late unless I started; but
immediately catching hold of the skirt of my blouse he pulled me
down again, saying, “I must stay with him, for the King had ordered
that I was to remain at Farree, and not go any farther into the
country.” This was fully explained by Ohmed Medina, who also told
me that Ebin Izaak had been obliged to give up the letters and
despatches whilst I had been talking to the old man.
I had been misled, though most unintentionally on the part of Mr.
Cruttenden, by his information of the great honour and reverence
with which the King of Shoa, Sahale Selassee, treated the members
of our political mission, and I had supposed it was merely necessary
for me to be the bearer of despatches from the coast, to be received
with all cordiality and freedom from suspicion as to the motives of my
visit on my arrival in Shoa. How disappointed I was may be imagined
when, instead of being permitted to proceed at once to the residency
in Ankobar, I found myself a prisoner; and on my telling the
Wallasmah that my queen would be very angry when she came to
hear of the letters being taken from me, he very coolly threatened to
have me chained, confirming the interpretation of Ohmed Medina, by
placing his two wrists together as if bound. As I saw he was in
earnest, and that if I said any more it might, perhaps, place our
ambassador in a worse position than what he seemed to be in, I
restrained my feelings, and retired to think over my situation and
what I conceived to be that of the mission in Shoa. Having sent a
short note by a messenger the day before to Captain Harris,
announcing my arrival, I postponed taking any decided steps until I
received his answer, for I now contemplated making my escape back
again, to take the news to Aden of the condition of our embassy, the
members of which were stated to be prisoners like myself.
I had not sat alone long, when some of the Wallasmah’s people
came to tell me I must go to Farree with them. I asked for my mule,
but found it had been taken away to have the benefit, as they