'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎179] (288/496)

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country to the westward. The remaining Galla tribes either became
mixed up with their semi Arab conquerors, or were driven across the
Webbi river. I ought to say one of the Webbi rivers, for there appear to
be three or four, though the principal branch, and that to which I allude,
is, doubtless, the Shebeyli, a river* taking its rise in the province of
Gurague, and which, making a considerable curve to the N". and E.,
finally loses itself in the sand below Mukdesha, and not far from the sea.
In the meanwhile, the nations to the eastward had not been idle.
The Mijirtheyn and Ahl Oor Sungeli secured the whole seaboard fiom
Hafoon to bunder Jedid ; the Dultahutah established themselves on the
prairie land south of the lofty range of the Oor Sungeli mountains , the
tribe of Murreyhan took possession of the country of ISTogal, abounding
in myrrh of the finest quality ; whilst the Ahl Agahdur, Girrhi, and Bur-
tirrhi, occupied the country to the westward, until they reached to the
south of Berbera. The southern boundary of the four last named tribes
of Darrood was the river Webbi, or Shebeyli, which thus defines the So
mali country from near Mukdesha, on the eastern coast, to twelve days
journey S. S. W. from Zeyla.
The subdivisions of the three principal descendants of Isaakh are well
known, as also are those of Darrood, but I have been able to glean only
scanty information regarding the smaller and more distant tribes of
Murreyhan, Girrhi, Burtirrhi, and Burzook. The Gidr Beersi and the
Esa Somal have several peculiarities which mark their Galla origin.
The Esa have three chiefs, each styled, in the language of the country,
Oghass. Of these, Oghass Earah and Oghass Robeleh are the most pow
erful, their residence being in the neighbourhood of Hurrur, from the
Emir of which place each annually receives a red flannel nightcap and
a few pieces of cloth. “ As treacherous as the Esa” is a proverb at
Zeyla, whose inhabitants declare that their savage neighbours will give
you a bowl of milk to drink with one hand, and stab you with the other.
Erom my personal experience of them, I have but too much reason to
consider them a cruel and treacherous race, amongst whom murder (the
more atrocious the better) is at a premium, and who can in no way be
trusted save at the expence of a heavy bribe.
* Called by Lieutenant Christopher the Harness river. I am assured by many
of the Somalis who have traded beyond Hurrur, that the three rivers, the Joob or
Webbi Guuana, the Shebeyli, and the Hawash, all take their rise in the mountains
of Bugama.