In Abyssinia (historical name of the Horn of Africa), people tended to resort to fishing in order to enrich their staple food, and for sale in one of the many weekly markets commonly held in many parts of Abyssinia. Among Abyssinian Christians, fish was particularly sought after on fast days as it provided a substitute for all other kinds of land animal meat which were forbidden them during the time of fasting.
As such, the Orthodox Lent which lasts for almost two months between late February and mid April, was a great period of fishing as winter was the period of vegetable gathering. At this time of year the Abyssinian aristocracy frequently organized large fishing parties in rivers and lakes. An honorable man was expected to have the habit of fishing. An Abyssinian nobleman unable to furnish his table with fish on a fast day would become an object of scorn in the community. The typical manner in which the Abyssinian aristocracy went about catching fish is as follows:
Any nobleman who wished for the game of fishing would first bring together all the members of his household and followers who want to take part. He assigns some of the members of the party to collect the seeds of the ferruginous millettia tree (Millettia ferruginea), which grow in pods like beans. For preplanning fishing excursions, ferruginous millettia seeds were usually the choice because they are portable and can be prepared ahead of time without losing their essence. Other members of the party are tasked with pounding it well in a mortar, till it becomes an oily paste. Some other members of the party are also given the job of preparing small bag-nets, which they fastened to a hoop and that to the end of a long cane. These are for the use of the chief, his officers and honorable guests. All these undertakings have to be accomplished before the appointed time for fishing.
On the appointed day, the whole party marches together to the waterbody where they intend to fish. The ferruginous millettia paste/powder is divided among the servants of the chief, each taking a quantity of it in his simple cloak. It was regarded as a good omen if a person susceptible to drunkness entered the fishing spot before everyone else. Like all medieval societies, Abyssinians believed in the power of similitude. The spirit of drunkness in the person susceptible to drinking was believed to influence the fish if they were to be exposed to it first. So usually one who is known to be a drunkard, or one that is intoxicated by very little drink, was made to go into the water before all others and to bless it. After pronouncing his blessing, he would begin to strain the fishing paste through his simple cloak.
The servants of the chief then follow his example, jumping into the water, and swimming where it is deep, strain the ferruginous millettia powder through their simple cloaks till it all gets dissolved. The fishing paste turns the water white, but the usually large number of people splashing about soon renders it muddy. The chief and his honorable company, however, do not condescend to enter into the water. Instead they stand by the banks of the waterbody in the most suitable places for taking fish in their bag-nets.
Shortly after the dissolution of the ferruginous millettia powder, the fish make their appearance on the surface of the water. The honorable people strive to take in the greatest number of them possible with their bag-nets while refraining from entering into the water. On their part, the humble folk compete with each other for catching the largest number of fish possible with their cloths or by hand.
In rivers, the ferruginous millettia substance affects the fish for several kilometers down the river. The larger sort after a while recover from their stupefaction, but some of the small fish may even get killed by its poison.
When the fishing excursion is over, the party returns to the residence of the nobleman. The servants would bring in what they have caught separately, which was partly handed to the butler, and partly distributed among the friends of the chief.
References
Pearce, Nathaniel (1831) The Life and Adventures of Nathaniel Pearce. Edited by John James Halls. Volume 2. Cambridge University Press.
Parkyns, Mansfield (1853) Life in Abyssinia: Being Notes Collected During Three Years’ residence and Travels in that Country. Volume I. John Murray: London.
Plowden, Walter Chichele (1868) Travels in Abyssinia and the Galla Country: With an Account of a Mission to Ras Ali in 1848. Edited by Trevor Chichele Plowden. Longmans, Green, and Co.: London.
Harris, William Cornwallis (1844) The Highlands of Ethiopia. 2nd edition. Volume II. Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans: London.
Neuwinger, H. D. (2004) Plants used for poison fishing in tropical Africa. Toxicon, Vol.44 No.4, pp.417-430. Elsevier Ltd.
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