THE SOMALI. 



193 



The Somali. 



The Somali race, akin to the Afars in features, speech, and origin, is represented 

 in the Awash basin, between Tajurah Bay and the realm of Harmy, by the powerful 

 tribe of the Issas, who even make incursions across the Awash into the plains of 

 the Danakils. These temporary migrations are caused by the irregularity of the 

 climate, the rains falling at different times on the coast of the Red Sea and the 

 Gulf of Aden. Immediately after the rains, when the pasture-lands are covered 

 with rich grass, the Issas demand hospitality from the Danakils, who in turn come 



Fig. 61. — Somali Girl. 



over to the Somali country when their own pasturages are dried up and the 

 southern lands are renewed by the rains. This reciprocal dependence maintains 

 harmony between these two powerful and warlike nations. The Issa, although 

 nominally tributaries of the Egyptian Grovernment, were practically independent, 

 as the chief of the tribe had to be subsidised to protect the caravans going between 

 the mountains of Harrar and Zeïla. The Issa camel-drivers are almost exclusively 

 engaged in transporting merchandise to the mountains, where their loads are 

 committed to other drivers. They are always accompanied by their wives, who 

 lead the camels and bear on their backs the firewood and cooking utensils, and, if 



13— AF. 



