Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/330

322 NOTES ON THE FOLK-LORE AND SOME SOCIAL CUSTOMS OF THE WESTERN SOMALI TRIBES.

By Capt. J. S. King.

I.—.

AMONG the numerous superstitions attesting the Pagan origin of the Somáli, may be mentioned two forms of oath in use among the Eesa and Gadabúrsi tribes:—

(A.)—By the Stone.

For this oath a special sacred stone is kept in the Fárih Mutallif family of the Hárlah sub-tribe of the Eesa; and when the tribe acquire any property by looting, or otherwise, one man's share of the spoil is set apart, in the name of the stone, for its hereditary keeper.

When making a solemn covenant, one of the parties hands the stone to the other, at the same time uttering the following formula in the Somali language:—

"Ahdigi Illáhi iyo ukútuki Amr Búr."

Meaning—"God is before us, and this stone is from Amr Búr," [name of a fabulous mountain].

The person receiving the stone, says:—

"Inan kú sarin akuädín, sidás ku kádi,"

Meaning—"I shall not lie in this agreement, and therefore take this stone from you."

I never had an opportunity of seeing the original stone, but one shown to me in Zayla, and said to be its counterpart, was simply a smooth, dark pebble about the size of a pigeon's egg, such as are to be found on any shingly beach.