Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/251



The Somali race, akin to the Afars in features, speech, and origin, is represented in the Awash basin, between Tajurah Bay and the realm of Harrar, by the powerful tribe of the Issas, who even make incursions across the Awash into the plains of the Danakils. These temporary migrations are caused by the irregularity of the climate, the rains falling at different times on the coast of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Immediately after the rains, when the pasture-lands are covered with rich grass, the Issas demand hospitality from the Danakils, who in turn come

over to the Somali country when their own pasturages are dried up and the southern lands are renewed by the rains. This reciprocal dependence maintains harmony between these two powerful and warlike nations. The Issa, although nominally tributaries of the Egyptian Government, were practically independent, as the chief of the tribe had to be subsidised to protect the caravans going between "the mountains of Harrar and Zeïla. The Issa camel-drivers are almost exclusively engaged in transporting merchandise to the mountains, where their-loads are committed to other drivers. They are always accompanied by their wives, who lead the camels and bear on their backs the firewood and cooking utensils, and, if