Chapter I: Ethnology

Division of classes in Somáliland—The trading caravans from
Ogádén and Harar—Habits of the nomad tribes—The Somáli
brokers—The outcaste races and their characteristics—The
settlements of the mullahs—The Somáli, his
character—Religion—Costume and weapons—Condition of
women—Marriage laws—Industries of women—Blood money—Feuds—Native
councils—Respect for the English—Somáli vanity—The
_dibáltig_ ceremony—Influence of religion—Influence of
civilisation—Religious observances—Superstitions—Carelessness—The
origin of the Somáli race—Tracing descent for twenty-two
generations—Arab descent—Tribal customs—Plurality of
wives—Adoption of prefix _Ba_ to name of children—Somáli
nomenclature—Nicknames—Tribal divisions—“Brothers of the
shield”—Ruins, cairns, and graves—Frontier raids between
the Gállas and the Somális—Boldness of southern tribes—The
Golbánti Gállas-The Wa-pokómo negroes of the Tana—Origin of the
Gállas—The Esa tribe—The Gadabursi tribe—Evidences of former
highly-organised races in Somáliland—Interesting remains—Old
Gálla ruins—Curious legend to account for cairns—The robbers’
cover—Baneful influence of feuds 1-28