Darod invention.
On Eastern Africa
Lieut Cruttenden I.N--Communicated to Mr. M’ Queen by Sir Wm. Harris, Political Resident at Aden. (About Somali tribes)/ (8th May 1848).
The Bur e Somali, or Somali country, properly speaking, extends from Ras el Khyle, on the eastern coast, to the Esa tribe who now reside in the neighborhood of Zeylah. The Somalis , especially those who live on the coast, are fond of dating their origin from the Arabs. By their tradition, Sheikh Isaakh, an Arab chief of great sanctity, settled on the Somali coast near Mette(Mait), and, marrying a female of that place, became the father of the Habr Awal, Habr Gerxajis, Habr’t el Jahleh (HabarJeclo), which three tribes extend from Mette (Mait) to Jibel Elmiss in the present day.
To the Eastward of Mette(Mait) we find the warlike tribe of the “Wursungeli,” which name means “has brought good news” (It is spelled in the chart Oor Singali, which is incorrect), and thence to the east ward round Cape Jered Hafoon, and down to Ras El Khyle, the country belongs to the numerous clans of the Mijjertheyn. These are the tribes on the coast.
To the southward we find the country of Murreyhan, and next in succession to the west the tribes of Dulbahanti, Burtirrhi, Abbaskool, Ghirri, GidirBeersi, and Easa, whilst the Bheer Whallea tribe inhabits the banks of the Webbe, and the province of Ogahden fills up the space between them and the Haweea, who reside on the bend of the river and on the coast of Mukdeeshah (Mogadisho). This river Webbe, which takes its rise in Gurague, pursues, as far as my accounts go, a different course to that usually laid down for it. After leaving the country of the Bheer Whallea, it flows more to the E.N. E. and approaching near the sea some two days’ journey to the N.W. of Mukeeshah, takes a sudden bend to the S.W., and passing that town at 6 hours’ distance, is finally absorbed in a marsh a little below the latitude of Brava, and about 6 days from the sea. Annual expeditions are made by the Mijjerheyn and Wursugeli to the river, where they purchase ivory and myrhh with cowries, which they bring with them from Zanzibar.
From Ras el Khyle to Berbera, the Wadi Nogal extends in almost a straight line between two ranges of mountains. The “happy valley” is spoken of in the most glowing terms by the natives, and apparently forms their great road for trade. The people of Ogahden, Murreyhan, &, bring all their gums, ivory, and ghee along this valley, as being the safest and least fatiguing route, and the people are described as a peaceful race, who subsist chiefly by the chace, and by their sale of ostrich feathers, myrrh, and ghee.
This valley would form an advantageous starting-point for a traveler, nor do I apprehend any particular danger. In a commercial point of view the Mijjertheyn and Wursungeli territories are the most valuable, and I consider that a small vessel of 300 or 400 tons might with ease procure a cargo of gum arabic, luban, and myrrh, at any of the bunders belonging to these tribes. The fact of upwards of 800 tons having been exported during my stay of 7 months on that coast, from three ports alone, sufficiently attests the abundance of the article, and in some measure may account for the rapid fortunes accumulated by the Banians, in whose hands alone does this trade lie. Arrangements should be made with merchants on this coast before the commencement of the foul weather….It is earnestly hoped that the English enterprise will open this trade before long. The name of the English is much respected by the natives and they make a marked difference between them and other nations.
Promises of all kinds were made to me, that they will give every facility to the English merchant who will bring his wares himself amongst them, and who could thus afford to sell them cheaper, and one or two offered to guarantee a certain supply annually if arrangements were made in time. It would be useless, however, sending out a vessel without some person who understood the character of the people, and who could converse in Arabic with them without the aid of an interpreter.
To the Westward of the Mijjertheyn hill, the Wursungeli range, 4000 feet high, affords an exhaustible supply of frankincense, though but little gum-arabic, and no myrrh. The climate on these mountains is described as most invigorating, the country abounds in large game, the lion being very common in these parts.
Westward of Wursungeli , the gum trees become scarce, and though there are some parts having considerable trade throughout the year, all their gums are brought from Dulbahanti and Ogahden tribes. Sheep form the chief article of export from Kurrum westwards, and the countless flocks that are driven down almost daily and shipped off for the Arabian coast exceeds belief. Berbera is of course the greatest mart at one season of the year, as all the tribes collect there, but an English vessel would do but little when places in competition with the Banians, whose cargoes are, generally speaking, engaged the season before. I may here mention as a proof of the peaceful nature of the country, that frequently the Banians go for 20 days’ journey inland, for change of air, and are allowed to live unmolested. I would not, therefore, advise a vessel to go to Berbera to trade, but endeavor to be off the sea ports to the eastward as soon as ever the season opens. The gums are then all packed in readiness for shipment, and but very trifling delay would occur.
To the Westward of Berbera, there are no trading ports until we came to Zaylah, where doubtless a vessel would get a valuable cargo of coffee and mules; but I fear much time would be lost. But a small quantity of gum is brought into Zeylah—coffee, dye, and ghee, with ivory in small quantities, and ostrich feathers, form the articles of export; and though probably the present ruler, Sheikh Sherwarkhi Ali Saleh, will by his wise form of government eventually form the trade to Hurrur (Harar), and it is a thing to be looked forward to, and does not exist at present. I should average the quantity of gums exported from the Somali coast at 1500 tons, though occasionally, after a good season, I believe that the Mijjertheyn tribe alone export nearly that quantity.
