-
Skip These Ads
-
Skip These Ads|
|
 |
Click here and add this page to your favorites!
|
Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: SIV-SOU |
|
|
SOMALILAND , a country of East Africa, so named from its Somali inhabitants. It is also known as the " Eastern Horn of Africa," because it projects somewhat sharply eastwards into the Indian Ocean, and is the only section of the continent which can be spoken of as a peninsula. In general outline it is an irregular triangle, with apex at Cape Guardafui. From the apex the north side extends over 600 m. along the south shore of the Gulf of Aden westwards to Tajura Bay, and the east side skirts the Indian Ocean south-west for over moo m. to the mouth of the Juba. Somali also inhabit the coast region and considerable areas inland, as far south as the Tana river. The country between the Tana and Juba rivers now forms part of British East Africa (q.v.), and in this article is not included in Somaliland. Inland the limits of Somaliland correspond roughly with the Shoan and Harrar Hills, and the Galla district south of Shoa and east of Lake Rudolf. The 40 east may be taken as the western limit of Somali settlements. The triangular space thus roughly outlined has a total area of about 356,000 sq. m. The population is estimated at about t,roo,000, but no trustworthy data are available. It is partitioned between Great Britain, Italy, France, and Abyssinia as under: Area in sq. m. Population. British Somaliland . 68,000 300,000 French Somaliland . 12,000 50,000 Italian Somaliland . 146,000 400,000 Abyssinian Somaliland r. . 130,000 350,000 Total . . . . 356,000 I , I00,000 Somaliland was not generally adopted as the name of the country until the early years of the 19th century. The northern and central districts were previously known as Adel, the north-east coast as Ajan. By the ancients the country was called regio romataica, from the abundance of aromatic plants which it produced. Physical Features.The whole region is characterized by a remarkable degree of physical uniformity, and may be broadly described as a vast plateau of an average elevation
The incline is uniformly to the south-east, and apart from the few coast streams that reach the Gulf of Aden during the rains, all the running waters are collected in three riversthe Nogal in the north, the Webi Shebeli in the centre, and the Juba (q.v.) i See also ABYSSINIA.in the southwhich have a parallel south-easterly direction towards the Indian Ocean. But so slight is the precipitation that the Juba alone has a permanent discharge seawards. The Nogal sends down a turbulent stream during the freshets, while the Shebeli, notwithstanding the far greater extent of its basin, does not reach the sea. At a distance of about 12 M. from the coast it is intercepted by a lone line of dunes, which it fails to pierce and is thus deflected southwards, flowing in this direction for nearly 170 m. parallel with the coast, and then disappearing in a swampy depression (the Bali marshes) before reaching the Juba estuary.' Geology.The Somaliland plateau is chiefly composed of gneiss and schist. In the north the plateau is overlain by red and purple unfossiliferous sandstones, capped near its edge by a cherty lime-stone also unfossiliferous but possibly of Lower Cretaceous age. The plains inland from Berbera, and the maritime margins between the coast and foot of the plateau, consist of limestones of Lower Oolitic age with Belemnites subhastatus. At Duba some limestones may belong to the Lower Cretaceous. Climate.In general the climate is dry and bracing all over the plateau. Temperature is as a rule high but with considerable variation, from 6o F. or less in the early morning to too or over in the early afternoon. On an average the coast-belt temperatures are some to higher than those of the plateau. Four seasons are recognizedJanuaryApril, very dry and great heat; MayJune, cooler and the " heavy " rains; JulySeptember, the season of extreme heat and the south-west monsoon; OctoberDecember, the " light " rains. The " heavy " rains are little experienced in the coast districts. The rainfall is from 4 to 8 in. a year. In con-sequence of the elevation
Flora.The highlands, which in an almost continuous line traverse East Africa, have to a great extent isolated the flora of Somaliland in spite of the general resemblance of its climate and soil to the country on the western side of the band of high ground. In the northern mountainous regions of Somaliland the flora resembles, however, to some extent, that of the Galla country and Abyssinia. On the plateau many forms common elsewhere in East Africa, such as the Borassus palm and the baobab tree, are missing. The greater part of the country is covered either with tall coarse grasses
Fauna.Somaliland is rich in the larger wild animals. Among them are the lion (Somali name libah) and elephant, though these have been to a large extent driven from the northern coast districts; the black or double-horned rhinoceros, common in central Ogaden; leopards, abundant in many districts, and daringthey have given their name to the Webi Shebeli (" River of the Leopards "); panthers; spotted and striped hyenas (the latter rare); foxes, jackals, badgers and wild dogs; giraffes and a great variety of antelopes. The antelopes include the beisa oryx, fairly common and widely distributed; the greater and lesser kudu (the greater kudu is not found on the Ogaden plateau) ; the Somali hartebeest (Bubalis Swaynei), found only in the Haud and Ogo districts; waterbuck, rare except along the Webi Shebeli and the Nogal ; the dol or Somali bushbuck; the dibatag or Clarke's gazelle; the giraffe-like gerenuk or Waller's gazelle, very common ; the aoul or Soemmering's gazelle, widely distributed; the dero (Gazella Speki); and the small dikdik or sakaro antelope, found in almost every thicket. The zebra (Equus grevyi) is found in Ogaden and places to the south, the wild ass in the northern regions. There are wart hogs, baboons (maned and maneless varieties), a tree monkey, jumping shrews, two kinds of squirrel, a small hare, rock rabbits 2 It is probable that a divergent branch leaves the Shebeli some distance above the swamps and that at high water an overflow into the Juba occurs (see Geog. Journ., Nov. 1909). and a weasel-like animal which hunts in packs. Ostriches are found in the open plains; the rivers swarm with crocodiles, but hippopotami are rare. Birds of prey are numerous and include eagles, vultures, kites, ravens and the carrion stork. Among game birds are three varieties of bustard, guinea fowl, partridges, sand grouse and wild geese. Snakes
Hadramut with forty followers about the 13th century. Other traditions trace their origin to the Himyaritic chiefs Sanhaj and Samamah, said to have been coeval with a King Afrikus, who is supposed to have conquered Africa about A,n. 400. These legends should perhaps be interpreted as pointing to a 46 48 F o G E}Gel-1 Yeran W.Jembelhudi Ai sts Handa North R. lj RasNafun yf Ha(un of A d e n 1 rt i 1 Direp H et 4,~ QSJk RITISH~SOM,AL`I \ ( r 1 u ~~ _ 9ado r r+p+4( - Dnv a \Ark j: 6 g L (3gI~ si Oa 1 +, 1 q$ ~~O A N Da Bandar Bela
cgs Ababa ""~ r i g g $ura~ L Q, Ras Mabber 4 h ar ?oHarrar; 1 Bet., Deri K P Nora. ' m, - `b r 1 , Bubass -_ a - , r ~," i + `J o +4 D-/1 Etra Qu. 'r JA y Fai'i e Aidagalla Alk b+l - 1, ,.~ t t41, wA"/ 2, C ` \~\~ : c rr o 7idbal4 ~ J Du Rawer-Ram( ~Q e. d N g J -~-e o Q -_.,J ~, Aagaburll'~G agab ,. aldau ~. t rb a ' gip' a ~\ P Suk w u 9 ure n t Raa Bowen Bohotle a ,-._.., O~\,~gS .7 '' ~ Y ( t 6 `S Ses~ban / ai . 1 1 Damot < \ iddin ~r r Ban Illi (Negro B.) .Gab '.1 111 r! (Dermo).t ~ del d'Agoa a Eno,: Eago Rrdge d S t y 1 w` Gm Ovr p'r q ~~ i c` i f I Xo Daratol ~ e ri $s I J.Darag alt. R u.5g a I t rOm ,, 0 g Walwal d " M u d u k) ,.~ J - ~~ ur\ u h'3 ! l t\` a ' - o c ',.'. (Y Gorobube`~y 4, ' -~ tr 4,, riey T. . l J Sehc t X: C. Carad ., ~'j i p Gedogubi ) )K' fa,Karanlet d t.' y ,.:,~L a C.Awad . r 1'e. r t Iiilswen-a \~ ;- :.~ ~`~ as Awat J - ~~:! f' I ~J Getedi ter:- ~e h.:~ rp t ~ii .~-~ y 6!1 Ba '\~ 77 _ /_ .~~ andlebo-'i CT,~ On '' J.1~:`WaanOfakp4P lasan C~~ tri -:i.. r r-. L i b a n e t_/ a uBodle a .. wa, r ;'\~ `i c~ t<<~\r A e i. .. aaRns Mond \ 1 'V BlUlgkras l~ El nk El Ch Ilak Oi f ~ oQ ^'l ! - n. J .uJ~~\ Dolo "'\-\1"\,\~~\\~~``~~'\"\ r a ~,. '~, I N;.. ,:' Mereg 's t Lugft ~M ulimad co Rm R I T I S H Wale,. ,, oHakarra ( ,fir -' 6Caulo \ tiJ Manlle t O B \` Lehel: Ma rdero -a e6 f y P ~+ o El Wak , " 'dli Itala (EI Adhate) OOa ro bi ' Co!rtnq Sala_lq i s Kulmis Garas Oma r araweino Ras Malable ardera4-1 ?~ ~ \ ' Dakaah Birri Ballad L A haka '\,.~. =~ b o ukdishu arsheik ~/ 5r~ -RA--S uasur Q ezirat T =' 2 __ YakaJilu le Gorse A Marks '. Munguya [Orion : ~'~ Swamp - Torre SOMALILAND ~k'"' ~rtr I ,~ ~`'-. Mfudo ~~t.di~o- ~~rahanl Bra"a akdeia - o~~ -Fue i, Kaskera English Miles zoo Afmadu ; t WO9, J,e1tD le I i 4ab; . - ~ F o 20 40 6o 8o too ii Deshek :Wnma l/ Equator r Railags.: t+...~ _ " Lang-auk East 46of Greenwich E 48 F so G Ernerr Walkrr.o are series of Arab immigrations, the last two of which are referred to the 13th and 15th centuries. But these intruders seem to have ftenpover been successively absorbed in the Somali stock; and the Arabs never succeeded in establishing permanent communities in this region. Their influence has been very slight even on the tubers are Somali language, whose structure and vocabulary are essentially 1 and the Hamitic, with marked affinities to the Galla on the one hand a. They and to the Dankali (Afar) on the other. The present Somali peoples are possessed of no general type. however, They are not pure Hamites, and their physical characteristics vary considerably, showing signs of interbreeding with Galla, sled from Afar, Arabs, Abyssinians, Bantus and Negroes. They are a 3 4 6 5 4 a rt 42 40 istnayu 44 black snake called muss being those most dreaded. Mosquitoes rarely troublesome; gadflies, and a large spider (hangey spins a web resembling golden silk, are common, as are and centipedes. Termites rear sharp pointed " hills," o 20 ft. high. A species of lizard grows nearly 4 ft. long. Inhabitants.The Somali belong to the Eastern Hamitic family of tribes, of which the other chief me the neighbouring Galla and Afar, the Abyssinian Agau Beja tribes between the Nubian Nile and the Red Se have been identified with the people of Punt, who we to the Egyptians of the early dynasties. The Somali, declare themselves to be of Arab origin, alleging their progenitor to have been a certain Sherif Ishak b. Ahmad, who cro (Ethiopic) were known u), which race of magnificent physique, tall, active and robust, with fairly regular features, but showing Negro blood in their frequently black complexion and still more in their kinky and even woolly hair. Their colour varies from the Arab hue to black, and curiously enough the most regular features are to be found among the darkest groups. There are four classes in Somaliland: (r) nomads who breed ponies, sheep, cattle and camels, live entirely on milk and meat, and follow the rains in search of grass; (2) settled Somali, comparatively few, living in or near the coasts; (3) outcast races, not organized in tribes but living scattered all over Somaliland; they are hunters, workers in iron and leather, and the chief collectors of gum and resin; (4) traders. The national dress is the " tobe," a simple cotton sheet of two breadths sewn together, about 15 ft. long. Generally it is thrown over one or both shoulders, a turn given round the waist, and allowed to fall to the ankles. The " tobes " are of all colours from brown to white. A ceremonial " tobe " of red, white and blue, each colour in two shades, with a narrow fringe of light yellow, is sometimes worn. Old men shave the head and sometimes grow a beard. Middle-aged men wear the hair about an inch and a half long; young men and boys in a huge mop; while married women wear it in a chignon, and girls in mop-form but plaited. The Somali are a fighting race and all go armed with spear, shield and short sword (and guns when they can get them). During the rains incessant intertribal lootings of cattle take place. Among certain tribes those who have killed a man have the right to wear an ostrich-feather in their hair. They are geat talkers, keenly sensitive to ridicule, and quick-tempered. Women hold a degraded position among the Somali (wives being often looted with sheep), doing most of the hard work. The Somali love display; they are inordinately vain and avaricious; but they make loyal and trustworthy soldiers and are generally bright and intelligent. The Somali have very little political or social cohesion, and are divided into a multiplicity of rers or fakidas (tribes, clans). Three main divisions, however, have been clearly determined, and these are important both on political and ethnical grounds. I. The HASHIYA (Abud's Asha), with two great subdivisions: Daroda, with the powerful Mijertins, War-Sangeli, Dolbohanti and others; and Ishak, including the Gadibursi, Issa (Aissa), Habr-Wal, Habr-Tol, Habr-Yuni, Babibli, Bertiri. All these claim descent from a member of the Hashim branch of the Koreish (Mahomet's tribe), who founded a powerful state in the Zaila district. All are Sunnites, and, although still speaking their Somali national tongue, betray a large infusion of Arab blood in their oval face, somewhat light skin, and remarkably regular features. Their domain comprises the whole of British Somaliland, and probably most of Italian Somaliland. II. The HAWTYA, with numerous sub-groups, such as the Habr- Jalet, Habr-Gader, Rer-Dollol, Daji, Karanle, Badbadan, Kunli, ajimal and Ugass-Elmi; mostly fanatical Mahommedans forming the powerful Tarika sect, whose influence is felt throughout all the central and eastern parts of Somaliland. The Hawiya domain comprises the Ogaden plateau and the region generally between the Nogal and Webi-Shebeli rivers. Here contact has been chiefly with the eastern Galla tribes. Of the outcast races the best known are the Midgan, Yebir, and Tomal. The Midgan, who are of slightly shorter stature than the average Somali, are the most numerous of these peoples. They are great hunters and use small poisoned arrows to bring down their game. The Yebir are noted for their leather work, and the Tomal are the blacksmiths of the Somali. Prehistoric Remains.The discovery of flint implements of the same types as those found in Egypt, Mauritania, and Europe show Somaliland to have been inhabited by man in the Stone age. That the country was subsequently occupied by a more highly civilized people than the Somali of to-day is evidenced by the ruins which are found in various districts. Many ofthese ruins are attributable to the Arabs, but older remains are traditionally ascribed to a people who were " before the Galla." Blocks of dressed stone overgrown by grass lie in regular formation; a series of parallel revetment walls on hills commanding passes exist, as do relics of ancient water-tanks. This ancient civilization is supposed to have been swept away by Mahommedan conquerors; before that event the people, in the opinion of several travellers, professed a degraded form of Christianity, which they had acquired from their Abyssinian neighbours. Of more recent origin are the ruins known as Galla graves (Taalla Galla). These are cairns of piled stones, each stone about the size of a man's head. The cairns are from 12 to 15 ft. high and about 8 yds. in diameter. Each is circular with a central depression. Exploration.Somaliland was one of the last parts of Africa to be explored by Europeans. The occupation of Aden by the British in 1839 proved the starting-point in the opening up of the country, Aden being the chief port with which the Somali of the opposite coast traded. The task of mapping the coast was largely undertaken by officers of the Indian navy, while the first explorers of the interior were officers of the Indian army quartered at AdenLieut. Cruttenden (1848), Lieut. (afterwards Captain Sir Richard) Burton, and Lieut. J. H. Speke (the discoverer of the Nile source). In 1854 Burton, unaccompanied, penetrated inland as far as Harrar. Later on the expedition was attacked by Somali near Berbera, both Bur-ton and Speke being wounded, and another officer, Lieut. Stroyan, R.N., killed. For twenty years afterwards no attempt was made to open up the country. The occupation of Berbera by the Egyptians in 1875 was, however, followed by several journeys into the interior. Of those who essayed to cross the waterless Hand more than one lost his life. In 1883 a party of EnglishmenF. L. and W. D. James (brothers), G. P. V. Aylmer
to the Upper Nile (1899-1900). In 1902-1903 a survey of the Galla-Somali borderlands between Lake Rudolf and the upper Juba was executed by Captain P. Maud of the British army. Military operations during 1901-4 led to a more accurate knowledge of the south-eastern parts of the British protector-ate and of the adjacent districts of Italian Somaliland. End of Article: SOMALILAND If you wish, you can link directly to this article.
<a href="http://jcsm.org/StudyCenter/Encyclopedia/SIV_SOU/SOMALILAND.html"> SOMALILAND </a> |
|
|
(Previous) SOMA (Sanskrit for " pressed juice," from the r... |
(Next) SOMBRERO |
Jesus Christ Saves Ministries, P.O. Box 70696, Pasadena, CA 91117JCSM is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization. Copyright © 1997-present. |
Free & Cheap Cell
Phones |
Cheap Long Distance
Phone Service Carriers |
Talk America Local Phone Service
|
Ztel & MCI - Unlimited Long Distance
Compare
Cell Phone Plans & Companies |
International Calling Cards & Prepaid Phone Cards |
Voice Over IP Broadband Internet Phone
Service | Wireless
Phone Plans & Cheap Cell Phones
|
_____________________________________________________________________________
Online First Aid and CPR Certification . The Online Christ Centered Ministries . The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained . The Inerrancy Discussion Board . Free Email Accounts . Home Equity Loans . JasonGastrich.com . The Missions, Apologetics, and Creation Bible Conference . Young Earth Creation Science . San Diego Music Lessons . 10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings . Gastrich.net . Maximizing the Internet: 12 Keys to Success . Louisiana Baptist University . NKJV Web Hosting and Services . Michael Newdow . San Diego Soccer Training . Christian Guitar Lessons . Jesus Christ Saves Ministries . Eternal Security
