160 TRIBES BORDERING ON
suspecting that they are connected in origin with that people,
and perhaps also‘with the Danâkil,
In a report of the late voyage oh Çaptain Owen,' we are
informed, that the Somauli inhabit the coast of Africa from
the Red Sea to the river Juba ; they are said to be confined
to the.coast, the interior being occupied by the uncultivated
and ferocious Gralla. The Somauli are a mild and pastoral
people, followers of Mohammed.*
Tribes of Somauli occupy all the countries lying near the
eastern coast of Africa from the gulf of Aden to Magadoxo
and the coast of Ajan, between the inland district belonging
to the Galla and the sea-shore. They are a pastoral people,
and in the seà-ports are well known to be addicted to commerce,
and navigation, in the pursuit of which many of this
nation are established near Mocha in Arabia, and at Arene
rn the Danâkil country. Barbara, ^sea-port upon the .coast,
is their principal settlement, where, aecording'to LortfValen-
tia, they hold a fair or mart from December fA April, for
the sale of gum, myrrh, and incense procured from Cape
Guardafui, and gold, ivory, slaves, and beasts of burden
from the interior. The Somauli convey their Rierchandize in
caravans to Arabia and the coast of Abyssinia, and do not
allow the entry of Arab vessels into their ports^-Zegle, ^iiu-
ated on an island belonging to the Somauli, has also extensive
trade, but is nearly deserted during the heats . of
summer, on account of mosquitos which"infest the inhabit-
ants.f*
According to M. de Rienzi, the Somauli are remarkable
for the beauty of their features: they have a singular custom
of staining their hair of a yellow colour, by means of lime,
and of dressing it in imitation of the fleeces of their sheep,
which have fleshy tails of enormous bulk. The same traveller
says that they:are very pacific in their disposition, and display
* Narrative of Voyages to explore the Shores of Africa, Arabia and Madagascar,
performed in His Majesty’s Ships, Leven and Barracouta, under the direction
of Captain W .F .W . Owen, R. N. By Lieutenant Wolf, R. N. Journal of
the Royal Geog. Society, vol. iii. p, 208.
t M. de Rienzi ; Balbi, Abrégé de Geogr. p. 914.