CHAPTER I 
SOMALI ETHNOLOGY 
Division of classes in Somaliland — The trading caravans from Ogaden and 
Harar — Habits of the nomad tribes — The Somali brokers — The out- 
caste races and their characteristics — The settlements of the mullahs — 
The Somali, his character — Religion — Costume and weapons — Condition 
of women — Marriage laws — Industries of women — Blood money — Feuds 
— Native councils — Respect for the English — Somali vanity — The dibdltig 
ceremony — Influence of religion — Influence of civilisation — Religious 
observances — Superstitions — Carelessness — The origin of the Somali race 
— Tracing descent for twenty-two generations — Arab descent — Tribal 
customs — Plurality of wives — Adoption of prefix Ba to names of children 
— Somali nomenclature — ■Nicknames — Tribal divisions — “Brothers of 
the shield” — Ruins, cairns, and graves — Frontier raids between the 
G alias and the Somalis — Boldness of southern tribes — The Golbanti 
G alias — The Wa-pokomo negroes of the Tana — Origin of the Gallas — 
The Esa tribe — The Gadabursi tribe — Evidences of former highly- 
organised races in Somaliland — Interesting remains — Old Galla ruins — 
Curious legend to account for cairns — The robbers’ cover — Baneful 
influence of feuds. 
He who dines alone, dines with the devil. — Somali Proverb. 
The inhabitants of Somaliland may be divided into four 
classes : — The nomad Somalis, who keep sheep, goats, cattle, 
and camels, and breed ponies; who live almost entirely upon 
milk and meat, and follow the rains in search of grass for their 
animals. The settled Somhlis, who form a comparatively small 
community, living in or near the coast towns, and are princi- 
pally occupied as abbdns or brokers. Certain outcaste races, 
living in a precarious way, scattered about among the different 
Somhli tribes, engaged principally in gathering gum and 
hunting. The traders, who at certain seasons bring large 
caravans from the interior to the coast. 
The most important trading caravans are those which come 
B 
