(1) Zännäb and [Wäldä] Mäsqäl to Bishop Gobat in Jerusalem, Oct./Nov. 1861
1.1 English [back] translation
This letter, sent by debtera Saneb and debtera Maskal, is addressed to Samuel Gobat.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — how are you?
We are well, thank the Lord.
The brothers you sent to us have spread the light of Jesus Christ in our hearts. If perhaps you say: I give rest to the weary and I set the strong to fight, we pray that you will not grow weary. We are slaves to sin, but for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ we ask you to pray for us together with your brethren, that the mystery of His kingdom may be spread throughout our land. We know that you are praying for us, but we wish that you may increase your intercession for us even more.
1.2 German source
Dieser Brief, gesandt von Debtera Saneb und Debtera Maskal, gelange an Samuel Gobat.
Im Namen unseres Herrn Jesu Christi — wie befinden Sie sich?
Wir sind, dem Herrn sei Dank, wohl.
Die Brüder, die Sie zu uns gesandt, haben das Licht Jesu Christi in unseren Herzen verbreitet. Wenn Sie vielleicht sagen: Den Müden gebe ich Ruhe, und die Starken stelle ich an den Streit, bitten wir, dass Sie nicht müde werden. Wir sind der Sünden Sklaven, bitten Sie aber um unseres Herrn Jesu Christi willen, in Gemeinschaft mit Ihren Brüdern für uns zu beten, dass das Geheimnis seines Reiches in unserm ganzen Lande verbreitet werde. Zwar wissen wir, dass Sie für uns beten. Aber wir wünschen, dass Sie in Ihrer Fürbitte für uns noch mehr erstarken mögen.
Source: Smidt, Briefe [1855-1869], no. 2
[* Mittheilungen, No. 1, June 1862, p. 2; orthography updated]
(2) Zännäb and [Wäldä] Mäsqäl to the British & Foreign Bible Society in London, Oct. / Nov. 1861
2.1 English [back] translation
May this letter, sent by Debtera Saneb and Debtera Maskal, reach the Bible Society in London.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – how are you?
The brethren sent to us through S[amuel] Gobat have made the love of Christ dwell in our hearts. Before, we sat in great darkness, and now we rejoice in the light of the Gospel. Although we are still evil, we ask you not to grow weary, but to pray for us to the Father of Jesus Christ, that the cause of Christ that came to us may be honoured with us as it is honoured with you. We know that you are praying for us, but we are writing these lines so that you may pray even more for us.
Note: Enclosed with this letter was a form requesting that Amharic Bibles be printed in pocket size.
2.2 German source
Dieser Brief, gesandt von Debtera Saneb und Debtera Maskal, möge gelangen an die Bibelgesellschaft in London.
Im Namen unseres Herrn Jesu Christi — wie befinden Sie sich?
Die Brüder, welche durch S.[amuel] Gobat zu uns gesandt sind, haben die Liebe Christi in unseren Herzen wohnend gemacht. Zuvor saßen wir in großer Finsternis, und nun freuen wir uns im Lichte des Evangeliums. Zwar sind wir noch böse, bitten aber unserer deshalb nicht müde zu werden, sondern für uns den Vater Jesu Christi zu bitten, dass die Sache Christi, die zu uns kam, bei uns so geehrt werden möge, wie sie bei Ihnen geehrt wird. Dass Sie für uns beten, wissen wir, schreiben aber diese Zeilen, dass Sie noch mehr für uns beten mögen.
Source: Smidt, Briefe [1855-1869], no. 3
[* Mittheilungen, No. 1, June 1862, p. 2-3; orthography updated]
(3) Zännäb to Krapf in Korntal, December 1868
Letter written concerning aläqa Zännäb’s travel with Prince Alämayyähu Tewodros to Su’ez and his return to Massawa:
Source: Rubenson, Acta Aethiopica, vol. 2, no. 250.
Manuscript located at India Office Library and Records,
British Library: Asian and African Studies, London.
(4) Zännäb to Krapf (Adwa, December 1, 1870)
4.1 English translation
[ On Waaree ]
The [Oromo] young man Ware [Qubee: Waaree] from the branch of Nonno (not far from Rufo’s home country of Gumma), who helped me translate the Psalms and some parts of the New Testament, died on October 16 after being ill for several months. For a whole month he was plagued by fear of death. One day, however, I told him emphatically the words of Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies. · I am the way, the truth and the life” [John 11:25; 14:6].
After a few days, the Holy Spirit brought these words to life in his heart, so that Ware began to speak to people and exhort them. He also said that he saw a man shining with light and illuminating the earth. His garment and his eye were all light. This man had taken the gospel book lying in front of his attendants and said: “Be of good cheer, believe only in Jesus Christ; he who believes in Him will live even though he dies.” He told me that this did not happen in a dream, but was evident. I am very sad that this faithful friend has died.
[ Book design ]
Debtera Saneb’s [Zännäb’s] letter contains other things of interest that we would like to share:
He says that he has received part of the printed Gospel of Luke and is very happy about it, but we should now bind it beautifully, if possible with gold paint, so that it attracts the [Oromo]. The natural man looks at the outward appearance. Therefore, it must have a pleasing form so that it leads him to the spiritual and becomes a “trap,” as it were, to the spiritual. It was now certainly the will of God that the gospel should be preached to the [Oromo], and he had a great desire to go with [Johannes] Mayer to the [Oromo] and enlighten them with the light that had fallen on him.
[ On King Menelik and missions ]
The dear Saneb further writes that Menelek [Menelik], the king of Shoa, made a campaign as far south as Kaffa, that he subdued all the [Oromo] groups that lie between Shewa and Kaffa, that many [Oromo] perished, that many horses, mules, cows, and sheep were captured, as well as much gold and silver. One soldier had taken a bracelet of 100 ounces of gold from an [Oromo] woman. A large river, which had also been swollen by the rain, had held up the Shewan army so that it could not reach the residence of the King of Kaffa. – However, the king had promised to bring tribute to Shewa after the rainy season. The campaign lasted 42 days. Menelek was very pleased with this victory. The Catholic priest Massaja was with him, and the Catholic mission, which had stations as far as Kaffa, would be greatly strengthened as the king had now paved the way. The king had also received a skilled gunsmith from Jeddah, who had crafted 36 very good shotguns in 4 months. The king had given him a lot of money, livestock, slaves, and jewelry. This gunsmith is a Catholic Portuguese from India.
Finally, Saneb greets all true Christians in Europe and wishes them salvation and peace, and that the kingdom of God may come throughout the world.
4.2 German original
Chrischona-Blättchen für ihre Collekten-Vereine, March 1871, p. 2-3:
Source: Library at Theol. Seminary St. Chrischona
Remark
The letters published by St. Chrischona Pilgrim Mission have been lost. The correspondence received from today’s Ethiopia was given to missionary Johann Martin Flad for translation into German. The original letters were mostly written in Amharic. Although Aläqa Zännäb had learned some English from Flad at Mäqdäla, it is unlikely that he wrote letters in any language other than Amharic.
- Aregawi usually wrote Flad in German.
Full references
Mittheilungen aus der Correspondenz der Pilgermission, 1862. [Available at the Library of Theologisches Seminar St. Chrischona; Ref. Code: EK 1.1 Mitt (PM048633)]
Rubenson, Sven et al. (ed.). Acta Aethiopica; vol. 2: Tewodros and His Contemporaries. Addis Ababa Univ. Press and Lund Univ. Press, 1994.
Smidt, Wolbert G.C. “Deutsche Briefe von Äthiopiern 1855‒1869 aus dem Umkreis der protestantischen Mission zur Regierungszeit von Tewodros II”, Scrinium I (2005) [Varia Aethiopica], 287‒316. [View @ Academia.edu]