SEVENTEEN TRIPS THROUGH SOMLILAND

Identifier

339

Title

Author

Major H. G. C. SWAYNE, R.E. See all items with this value

Date

1903 See all items with this value

Type

Books See all items with this value

Description

Harar was an Arab state peopled by a mixed population ofArabs, SomAlis, Gallas, and half-breeds, collectively called Hararis,the city itself garrisoned by Egypt. It was a magnificent highlandcountry of agricultural land and tropical forests, often risingto an elevation of some nine thousand feet, if not more ; its slopesdescended on the east to Somililand, and on the west to thegreat Hawash Eiver depression ; beyond was Shoa, one of thekingdoms of Abyssinia.History tells us of conflicts between Christian Abyssinia andthe Mahommedan state of Harar from time to time; but thepine-clad passes of entry from the Hawash were difficult to forceand easily defended. Harar was safe and isolated, and thesoldiers of Abyssinia and Harar alike were indifferently armedwith spears, shields, and antiquated muskets.When Egypt proposed withdrawing from Harar in 1884, twoseparate missions were sent up from Aden to Harar to report onthe military situation, and to facOitate the withdrawal of theEgyptian troops.Harar was practically in our hands, and it is conceivable thatcould later events have been foreseen, and considering its undoubtedcommercial value, it might have remained under ourinfluence.Though the fact was not likely to have been recognised inthe state of our knowledge at the time, Harar offered a valuablebuffer-state, which, if strengthened and supported, might havekept apart the well-armed Abyssinians, who are Christians, fromthe badly-armed Somdlis, who are Mahommedans. But at thattime the influx of arms had scarcely begun, and Abyssinianrestlessness was not so apparent.Be that as it may, the British saw the Egyptians safely downto Zeyla, and set up an old Arab family government, that ofthe Emir Abdillahi, with a comparatively weak escort of Hararis,armed with muskets and rifles

Author Ethnicity

Non-Harari

Everything Harar

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