130 THROUGH SOMALILAND AND ABYSSINIA CHAP. 
unfortunate in being next to the east of the Bertiri, whom the 
Abyssinians had already absorbed. 
The only Soméli tribes which may be said to be under 
Abyssinian influence are the Géri, Bertiri, Abbasgul, a few of 
the Esa, and Malingir. But they are all unwillingly so, and 
have at various times clamoured for help from the British. 
They all trade with Berbera. The Rer Amaden and the 
riverine negro population of the Webbe are well disposed to 
the British, though not much connected with Berbera except to 
the east in the Shabéleh district, whence a large proportion of 
Berbera caravans are derived. 
These headmen said that the Abyssinians every now and 
then came from Jig-Jiga with rifles, and did what pleased them 
best ; that they killed Abbasgul sheep and cattle for food, 
entered the karias and used the huts; that they forced even 
the old chiefs to hew wood and draw water, and interfered with 
the women ; and that many Abbasgul who had tried to defend 
their homes had been shot down. 
This tribe seemed utterly cowed, and quite unlike the war- 
like and independent people we met at Milmil. I noticed very 
few horses, and the tribesmen said that all their best had been 
taken by the Abyssinians. 
The Abbasgul told us that, three years before our trip, the 
Abyssinians came from Harar and overran all this country, 
even as far as the Sheikh Ash and Rer Ali tribes; and going 
into the Rer Hartin country beyond Milmil, they came back 
by way of the Rer Amaden and Adan Khair to the far south, 
to Imé; here they were among the Gallas and the Adone, or 
riverine negro population of the Webbe Shabéleh. The 
Abyssinians are said to have obtained by threats or violence a 
tribute of camels, cattle, or sheep from every tribe passed 
through on this far-reaching raid. One of our men stupidly 
told a crowd of people at the wells that we had come to attack 
Banagusé, the commander of the Jig-Jiga outpost, and it was 
not till we heard shouts of delight from the men, women, and 
children collected, that we discovered this foolishness, and put 
a stop to it. 
An Abbasgul di/,! to whom Sheikh Mattar had given us 
an Arabic letter, came to our camp. He said the Abyssinians 
were at Jig-Jiga, about thirty miles in our front, and that there 
were quite a hundred soldiers and a disorderly mob of Harar 
1 “Wise man”’ or chief. 
