''The Oromos were probably the aboriginal inhabitants of Ethiopia prior to the advent of the Abyssinians; they are said, however, also to be immigrants.
They have been conquered, and are held in subjection by the help of firearms, which their conquerors take care they shall not obtain, and by this device they are kept in a position of distinct inferiority and abject servitude.
They are without doubt a much purer race, have fine lithe figures, though spare, and have regular, handsome European like features.
Their hair is crisply curling, similar to that of people of Jewish stock. The hue of their skin varies from a light copper-colour to that of chocolate. They divide themselves into many tribes, according to the district, yet speak a similar language [though, as mentioned by Mr. Weld Blundell, there are several dialects].
It was interesting to me to find that our Somali servants [which accompanied us through the whole of our route] could understand, they told me, some of the Oromo words used by those people inhabiting the extreme south-west of the country, bordering upon the Sudan, and it points distinctly to a relationship of not very distant date.
Other travellers have noted similar facts, I find. That they are of a similar race scarcely admits of doubt, for in feature and build they very much resemble each other. The Somali is darker coloured, however, his skin being of a dark brown to almost black tint; but this is accounted for in the fact that he inhabits a more arid, hot, and desert tract of country, and lives perhaps a more outdoor life, because of his nomadic habits, and thus the sun has acted more upon his skin than upon that of the Oromos.
The Oromo lives a settled life, has his permanent hut, either among a cluster in a village, or else occasionally apart upon land that he tills.
His villages, like those of the Abyssinians, are invariably placed upon the summits or near the summits of hills, which keep him out of the heat of the lower lands, free from mosquitoes and consequent fever, as well as serve for the purpose of look-out and defence.
They are the producers and cultivators, being an industrious folk.
Around their villages and huts a tract of cultivated country can always be seen, with flocks and herds grazing near.
There is no doubt that, if they were not so oppressed and taxed, they would produce more, but the only thing taxed in Abyssinia appears to be the produce of industry, that of husbandry, manufacture, and trade, the result being that these suffer.
The Oromos grow cotton, spin it into thread by a peculiarly delicate spindle, and weave it into cloth.
Wheat, barley, teff, pepper, coffee, tobacco, vetches, beans, and peas, etc, I also saw cultivated by them.
Their huts are similar in shape to the Abyssinian, but, especially in the West, the arrangement of the interior is somewhat different, there being no inner circular wall, only a partition, somewhat back from the door, passing straight across the floor space, sufficient room only being left for use as a doorway; this divides the room into two, the outer acting as a porch, and as a place for keeping household necessaries, while the inner is the cooking part and women's quarter, and where also are the beeds, which are screened off by wickerwork hanging screens.''
The Geographical Journal, Volume 15
Royal Geographical Society., 1900 - Electronic journals
Pages 268-270
They have been conquered, and are held in subjection by the help of firearms, which their conquerors take care they shall not obtain, and by this device they are kept in a position of distinct inferiority and abject servitude.
They are without doubt a much purer race, have fine lithe figures, though spare, and have regular, handsome European like features.
Their hair is crisply curling, similar to that of people of Jewish stock. The hue of their skin varies from a light copper-colour to that of chocolate. They divide themselves into many tribes, according to the district, yet speak a similar language [though, as mentioned by Mr. Weld Blundell, there are several dialects].
It was interesting to me to find that our Somali servants [which accompanied us through the whole of our route] could understand, they told me, some of the Oromo words used by those people inhabiting the extreme south-west of the country, bordering upon the Sudan, and it points distinctly to a relationship of not very distant date.
Other travellers have noted similar facts, I find. That they are of a similar race scarcely admits of doubt, for in feature and build they very much resemble each other. The Somali is darker coloured, however, his skin being of a dark brown to almost black tint; but this is accounted for in the fact that he inhabits a more arid, hot, and desert tract of country, and lives perhaps a more outdoor life, because of his nomadic habits, and thus the sun has acted more upon his skin than upon that of the Oromos.
The Oromo lives a settled life, has his permanent hut, either among a cluster in a village, or else occasionally apart upon land that he tills.
His villages, like those of the Abyssinians, are invariably placed upon the summits or near the summits of hills, which keep him out of the heat of the lower lands, free from mosquitoes and consequent fever, as well as serve for the purpose of look-out and defence.
They are the producers and cultivators, being an industrious folk.
Around their villages and huts a tract of cultivated country can always be seen, with flocks and herds grazing near.
There is no doubt that, if they were not so oppressed and taxed, they would produce more, but the only thing taxed in Abyssinia appears to be the produce of industry, that of husbandry, manufacture, and trade, the result being that these suffer.
The Oromos grow cotton, spin it into thread by a peculiarly delicate spindle, and weave it into cloth.
Wheat, barley, teff, pepper, coffee, tobacco, vetches, beans, and peas, etc, I also saw cultivated by them.
Their huts are similar in shape to the Abyssinian, but, especially in the West, the arrangement of the interior is somewhat different, there being no inner circular wall, only a partition, somewhat back from the door, passing straight across the floor space, sufficient room only being left for use as a doorway; this divides the room into two, the outer acting as a porch, and as a place for keeping household necessaries, while the inner is the cooking part and women's quarter, and where also are the beeds, which are screened off by wickerwork hanging screens.''
The Geographical Journal, Volume 15
Royal Geographical Society., 1900 - Electronic journals
Pages 268-270