[31] “Wise man” or chief.
[32] We afterwards ascertained that at this time Banagúsé, the Abyssinian chief, was shooting elephants in Harrawa under the guidance of a son of Nur, the deposed Ugaz of the Gadabursi tribe. When we passed through the Harrawa Valley a few days later we were taken no notice of by Banagúsé or the Ugaz, who was living quite near our route. The latter had professed himself an enemy to the British, and had been intriguing with the Abyssinians, encouraging them to advance their influence into the Gadabursi country, in the hope that by their help he would be reinstated at the head of the tribe, ousting his brother Elmy, the present Ugaz.
[33] Undertaken after the Esa raid on Bulhár.
[34] The Somális themselves denied that the sickness was caused by bad water, declaring that the real cause was the bites of mosquitoes. These pests (called Kan-ad) are not generally present in Eastern Somáliland, but are common at certain spots on the coast between Berbera and Zeila, and on the Zeila-Harar routes, and in the Gadabursi country. They are also found near the Webbe, and when there the tribes from Berbera, who are not accustomed to mosquitoes, have a great dread of their bites, believing malarial fever to be caused by them.
[35] Adapted by Somális from the Hindustáni.
[36] The following titles were explained to me by an Abyssinian, and, though I cannot vouch for their accuracy of spelling, I jot them down:—
- Negúsa negest, the Emperor; literally the “king of kings.”
- Negús, King.
- Rás-Bitódet and Rás, high titles ranking next to Negús.
- Dejasmatch, General of Division.
- Kanyasmatch, General of the Right.
- Gerasmatch, General of the Left.
- Fi Taurari, General of the Advance.
- Balanbaras, Commandant of a fortress.
- Turk Basha, General of Artillery.
- Yeshi Alaka, Chief of a thousand.
The combined camp of a large Abyssinian army is so arranged that the Emperor and various kings occupy the central camp. In front is that of several Rás, Dejasmatch, and Taurari; to the right several Rás, Dejasmatch, and Kanyasmatch; to the left several Rás, Dejasmatch, and Gerasmatch.
Some idea of Rás Makunan’s importance as Governor of Harar may be gained from the fact that he has under him four Dejasmatch, eight Balanbaras, four Kanyasmatch, nine Gerasmatch, and five Fi Taurari.
Any of the kings has apparently a chance of becoming Emperor. The present Emperor, Menelek, is also King of Shoa.