'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎208] (317/496)

the chiefs, nor would the journey be very expensive; whilst the bracing
climate, pure air, and magnificent scenery, must prove most advantageous
to an invalid.
The Mijirtheyn Tribe has already been described by me in a Memoir
forwarded to Government in 184:3, and on looking over my notes, I do
not find it requisite to make any alteration, excepting in one or two
minor points. The luban meyeti is described as being the most valua
ble species of frankincense, which I have since ascertained not to
be the case; and again, where the Mijirtheyn tribe are spoken of as infe
rior to the Western Somalis. A few years more experience has proved to
me that the Mijirtheyn and Aid Oor Sungeli tribes are immeasurably
superior to those of the Edoor, and, though given to plunder a wreck, (a
fault sometimes found in England), they will not rob the stranger of his
own private property, and life is safe amongst them. With this very
brief tribute to the manly character of the Mijirtheyn, I will nofy pass
on to Eas Hafoon, the southern extreme of my wanderings on the So
mali coast.
Eas Hafoon, or “ the surrounded,” is in the Mijirtheyn territory, and
tenanted by Aial Eatha branch of the family of Othman. It consists of
a nearly square headland of 600 to 700 feet in height, formed of sand
stone and limestone. The outer edge of the peninsula is perfectly flat
and tabular, and the interior consists of undulating hills, deeply intersect
ed by ravines and the courses of mountain torrents. It is connected
with the mainland by a long narrow neck of white sand, shells, and mud,
with a few stunted bushes thinly scattered along it; and from its being
thus almost an island, I imagine it takes its name Hafoon.
The southern bay is of course the best adapted for ships during the
strength of the N. E. Monsoon, but a change of two or three points m
the direction of the wind to the eastward causes a swell to roll in, and
a surf to break on the beach. On our arrival there we found a few mi
serable Somali huts, and a population of perhaps fifty people, who offer
ed ivory, ostrich-feathers, ambergris, and fish-teeth, for sale. The bay is
much frequented by the shark-fishers from the Arabian coast, many of
whom reside here throughout the year, merely moving their fishing-craft
to the other side of the isthmus as the monsoon changes.
A walk of seven or eight miles brought us to the N. W. front °f f ^
cape, whence we embarked in a very crazy boat for the mainland,
bay, when we crossed, was too shallow for anything but very small v