Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/486

 898 SOUTH AND EAST AFEICA. Ikntus, whom they have grndually driven southwards to and beyond the Tana river, are the least known of all the Somali peoples, the very names of most of the duns belonging to this warlike nation being still unrecorded in ethnological works. Along the banks of the AVebi, of which they hold the south side, they ure colloctivelv called Gobron ; farther south, that is, in the narrow peninsula comprised between the Webi and the Benadir territory on the seaboard, dwell the Tuui, most peaceful of all the Somali tribes, who, instead of the spear, go about armed only with a stick. The Rahanuin division also includes, according to I'aulitschko, the Abgal people, who occupy the north side of the Webi. The Abgals, who are noted for their exceptional ferocity, still live at enmity with all the surrounding tribes, and are here and there even still opposed to the doctrines of Islam. All these fakidas are in a state of constant warfare with those of the Ilawiya division. The IIawivas and Midgans. The Ilawiyas, who are dominant in Ogadcn, that is, the great central territory* of Somidi Lanrl, are certainly the most powerful of all the Somali people. M. Revoil describes them as less bellicose than the other branches of the race, but at the same time more fanatical and more dangerous to foreigners. They belong to a distinct Mohammedan sect, which, to judge from their practices, seems in someway akin or analogt)us to that of the Wahabites in Central Arabia. According to the accounts received by Sottiro, the Ilawiyas have a large infusion of Galla blood, to which may perhaps be attributed the fact that their complexion is of a lighter shade than that of the seaboard tribes. In the inland regions most of them appear to be settled ai^riculturists, which is doubtless due to the greater elevation of this region, which is also better watered and more fertile than the low-lying coast- lands. In r)gaden, a land of pasturage and of cattle, they are on the contrary all nomads. In several parts of their domain the Ilawiyas are numerically in a minority. In fact in these districts they constitute a higher caste or political rulers, who re- gard with contempt the bulk of the inhabitants as belonging to alien tribes, or even to con(juered races. Thus the Adone people, who occupy the southern parts of Ogaden, differ altogether from the Somali proper, and according to their language and social habits should rather be grouped with the Bantu populations. The Adon«} idiom is closely related to the Ki-Swaheli of the Zanzibar coastlands. The two castes of the Ycbirs and Tomals, who, like the European gipsies, are the fortune-tellers, blacksmiths, and tinkers of these regions, are also regarded as tribes of different origin from the true Ilawiyas. The Yebirs are somewhat addicted to magic practices, such as manufacturing amulets, conjuring snakes, healing the sick, casting lots, and interpreting omens. They also take a leading part in all feasts and public ceremonies. The Tomals, called also Handads, forge the spear-heads; but although indispensable to the community they are kept beyond the precincts of the villages, and obliged to marry amongst themselves, being despised and feared as baneful mat^icians. •