Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/248

 territory without claiming the right of hospitality or the brotherhood of blood; the two newly made brothers kill an ox and pour the blood over their foreheads, cutting its skin in strips, which they make into necklaces and bracelets. About 1840 the Zeïla Arabs, reinforced by immigrants from Yemen, and Persian or Baluch mercenaries, penetrated into the Danakil country nearly as far as Aussa, but not one of the invaders returned. In 1875 an enemy more formidable than the coast Arabs attempted to force his way into their territory. At the head of 350 Egyptians armed with improved rifles and a train of artillery, Munzinger Pasha endeavoured to open a route towards Shoa, his intention probably being to reduce this kingdom under the sovereignty of Egypt. But the same Modaïto tribe who exterminated the first expedition fell upon the second with a like result. Munzinger, with the bulk of his troops, was slain by the lances of the Danakils, who say that "Guns are only useful to frighten cowards."

As the mountain streams are lost amongst the sands and lavas before reaching the sea, the Danakils are unable to cultivate their lands, except along the banks of the Awasli, where are a few garden-plots; insufficient, however, for the local wants. But through commerce the Danakils are enabled to procure sufficient supplies from the seaports and the markets of Shoa. It is the custom for every caravan en route to pay a tax on encamping, in return being entitled to the protection of the tribe, and thanks to its guides and safe conducts they pass in safety between the mountains and the sea. The Abyssinian sovereigns have often desired to close certain trade routes across the desert in order to open up others for their own advantage; but their power is arrested at the boundary of the plains, where the Danakils indicate the route to be followed with the points of their lances. In the northern part of the desert the Taltal tribe, who, according to Rüppell, greatly resemble the Abyssinians in features, are chiefly employed in working the salt in the bed of Lake Alalbed, which they sell to the Abyssinians of the plateaux in square bricks. The Taoras and Saortas, dwelling south of Adulis Bay in the Buri peninsula, are also Afars, modified by crossings with the Abyssinians, and speaking a Tigré dialect mixed with a large proportion of Arab words. According to Rohlfs the Taora and Saorta women are of extremely small stature in comparison with the men.

The redanto or chiefs of the northern Danakils are magicians, who hold communication with the spirit-world, and are acquainted with the star presiding over the destinies of each individual. The rank of redanto is hereditary, providing that the son be without physical or moral blemish, for unless of sound body and mind he would be incapable of holding communion with the spirits. On the Red Sea coast a few Afar families live by fishing, and venture far seawards in boats tapering to a point at the prow and stem, and carrying large square sails composed of mats. These boats were formerly greatly feared by navigators of the Red Sea. As bold on the sea as on the land, the Danakils often attacked and captured large merchant vessels; but they have been compelled to abandon their piratical courses, since the steam gunboats arc able to chase them into the small creeks and maze of coral islands along the coast. The descendants of these corsairs now turn their attention to fishing, and are the only sailors in the Red Sea who still pursue the dugong or lamentin.