CV written at Zion’s House, Jerusalem, 12 April 1871
I was born at Tackoosa a town in Abyssinia to which place my parents, who were originally from Dembea had come for the sake of the war which was carried on in the last named place; but they returned to Dembea when the king had given permission to the inhabitants to return thither and it was there that I passed the first years of my child-hood, till Dembea was again destroyed by Theodors [Tewodros II]. When the alarm was given that the soldiers were coming my father and I took our cattle out into the wildeness to hide them, but before we got them all safe, we were caught by the soldiers the cattle were taken from us and my father was forced to go with the army and guide them to the place where the rest of the people had hiden their cattle and provision, as I was very little and could not keep up with the dan of the army.
My father entrusted me to the care of an Officer and I had to follow the army, I remained with him for sometime, and then I entered the service of another, but I suffered so much from weariness that I told him that I could not go further, he then left me, telling me that if I went in a certain direction I would find people who would relieve me. From the time that I left this Officer I never saw my father or any of my relations again, except my Aunt whom I saw just as I was going to leave Abyssinia.
I followed the direction the Officer pointed out, sleeping at night in the Villages after a few days I came to the place where the Europeans were living. I first went to the house of Mr. Flad, but did not ask to be taken into his house. I then went to Mr. Mayer’s house and asked for some food, then his brother in law took me into Mr. Mayer, he asked me who I was, where I came from, and what I could do. I told him that I would do what I could, he then gave leave to remain in his house.
When I first came to Mr. Mayer I was about nine years old. I remained with him three years, and went with him to Quarata, and back again to Gaffat and afterwards to Debra-Tabor and Magdala. While at Gaffat I worked in his garden, and went with him about from place to place, till I was a little stronger and afterwards I had to go out with the sheep. Here it was that I learned to read a little and also heard of Jesus Christ and that He died to save me.
A short time after we came to Magdala the English came and took it. When Mr. Mayer and the other Europeans had to leave Abyssinia, then Mr. Mayer wanted to take with him a [Oromo] boy, but he fled, so he took me instead and brought me from Abyssinia to this place, where I have learned so many good & useful things, but especially that I have learned that Jesus Christ loves me and that He has washed away my sins in His blood, and I pray that He will always keep from evil and send His Holy Spirit into my heart that I may love Him more and more and serve Him faithfully, and that He will give me grace that if I return to Abyssinia I may tell my brethern that Jesus also died and shed His blood for them, and that He will accept them if they believe in Him; and that Mr. Mayer, and Dr. Gobat the Lord Bishop of Jerusalem and my teacher Mr. Palmer may receive His blessing for all the good they have done to me.
Zion’s-house April 12th. 1871
Your most humble servant
Gobow Desta.
Source: Smidt, Briefe [1869-78], p. 6-8 (Academia.edu)
[* Manuscript written by Gobbaw Dästa,
personal file “Gobau Desta” (Brüderverzeichnis Nr. 267),
Library (Archive), St. Chrischona-Pilgermission
Full reference
Smidt, Wolbert G. C. “Deutsche Briefe von Äthiopiern aus der Protestantischen Mission: Vom Fall des Téwodros bis zur Unterwerfung des Königs Minílik (1869 bis 1878)”, Orientalia Parthenopea 8 (2008), 9-56. [View at Academia.edu]