192 NORTH-EAST AFEICA. 



territory without claiming the right of hospitality or the brotherhood of blood ; 

 the two newly made brothers kill an ox and pour the blood over their foreheads, 

 cutting its skin in strips, which they make into necklaces and bracelets. About 

 1840 the Zeila Arabs, reinforced by immigrants from Yemen, and Persian or Baluch 

 mercenaries, penetrated into the Danakil country nearly as far as Aussa, but not 

 one of the invaders returned. In 1875 an enemy more formidable than the coast 

 Arabs attempted to force his way into their territory. At the head of 350 Egyptians 

 armed with improved rifles and a train of artillery, Munzinger Pasha endeavoured 

 to open a route towards Shoa, his intention probably being to reduce this kingdom 

 under the sovereignty of Egypt. But the same Modaito tribe who exterminated 

 the first expedition fell upon the second with a like result. Munzinger, with the 

 bidk of his troops, was slain by the lances of the Danakils, who say that " Guns 

 are only useful to frighten cowards." 



As the mountain streams are lost amongst the sands and lavas before reaching 

 the sea, the Danakils are unable to cultivate their lands, except along the banks of 

 the Awash, where are a few garden-plots ; insufiicient, however, for the local wants. 

 But through commerce the Danakils are enabled to procure suflBcient supplies from 

 the seaports and the markets of Shoa. It is the custom for every caravan en route 

 to pay a tax on encamping, in return being entitled to the protection of the tribe, 

 and thanks to its guides and safe conducts they pass in safety between the mountains 

 and the sea. The Abyssinian sovereigns have often desired to close certain trade 

 routes across the desert in order to open up others for their own advantage ; but 

 their power is arrested at the boundary of the plains, where the Danakils indicate 

 the route to be followed with the points of their lances. In the northern part of 

 the desert the Taltal tribe, who, according to Puppell, greatly resemble the 

 Abyssinians in features, are chiefly employed in working the salt in the bed of Lake 

 Alalbed, which they sell to the Abyssinians of the plateaux in square bricks. The 

 Taoras and Saortas, dwelling south of Adulis Bay in the Buri peninsula, are also 

 Afars, modified by crossings with the Abyssinians, and speaking a Tigré dialect 

 mixed with a large proportion of Arab words. According to Rohlf s the Taora and 

 Saorta women are of extremely small stature in comparison with the men. 



The redanto or chiefs of the northern Danakils are magicians, who hold 

 communication with the spirit-world, and are acquainted with the star presiding 

 over the destinies of each individual. The rank of redanto is hereditary, providing 

 that the son be without physical or moral blemish, for unless of sound body and 

 mind he would be incapable of holding communion with the spirits. On the Red 

 Sea coast a few Afar families live by fishing, and venture far seawards in boats 

 tapering to a point at the prow and stern, and carrying large square sails com- 

 posed of mats. These boats were formerly greatly feared by navigators of the 

 Red Sea. As bold on the sea as on the land, the Danakils often attacked and 

 captured large merchant vessels ; but they have been compelled to abandon their 

 piratical courses, since the steam gunboats arc able to chase them into the small 

 creeks and maze of coral islands along the coast. The descendants of these 

 corsairs now turn their attention to fishing, and are the only sailors in the Red Sea 

 who still pursue the dugong or lamentin. 



