Somaliland is rich in the larger wild animals. Among them are the lion (Somali name libah) and elephant ; the black or double horned rhinoceros, common in central Ogaden; leopards, abundant in many districts, and daring—they have given their name to the Webi Shebeli ("River of the Leopards") ; panthers; spotted and striped hyenas (the latter rare) ; foxes, jackals, badgers and wild dogs; giraffes and a great variety of antelopes. The antelopes include the beisa oryx, fairly common and widely distributed, the greater and lesser kudu (the greater kudu is not found on the Ogaden plateau) ; the Somali hartebeest (Bubalis Swaynei), found only in the Haud and Ogo districts; waterbuck, rare except along the Webi Shebeli and the Nogal; the dol or Somali bushbuck; the dibatag or Clarke's gazelle; the giraffe-like gerenuk or Waller's gazelle, very common; the aoul or Soemmering's gazelle, widely distributed; the deco (Gazella Speki) ; and the small dikdik or sakaro antelope, found in almost every thicket. The zebra (Equus grevyi) is found in Ogaden and places to the south, the wild ass in the northern regions. There are wart hogs, baboons (maned and maneless varieties), a tree monkey, jumping shrews, two kinds of squirrel, a small hare, rock rabbits and a weasel-like animal which hunts in packs. Ostriches are found in the open plains ; the rivers swarm with crocodiles, but hippopotami are rare. Birds of prey are numerous and include eagles, vultures, kites, ravens and the carrion stork. Among game birds are three varieties of bustard, guinea fowl, partridges, sand grouse and wild geese. Snakes are common, an adder, a variegated rock snake and a black snake called muss being those most dreaded.
Inhabitants.—The Somali belong to the Eastern (Ethiopic) Hamitic family of tribes, of which the other chief members are the neighbouring Galla and Afar, the Abyssinian Agau and the Beja tribes between the Nubian Nile and the Red sea. They have been identified with the people of Punt, known to the Egyptians of the early dynasties. The Somali, however, declare themselves to be of Arab origin, alleging their progenitor to have been a certain Sherif Ishak b. Ahmad, who crossed from Hadramut with 4o followers about the 13th century. Other traditions trace their origin to the Himyaritic chiefs Sanhaj and Samamah, said to have been coeval with a King Afrikus, who is supposed to have con quered Africa about A.D. 400. These legends should perhaps be interpreted as pointing to a series of Arab immigrations, the last two of which are referred to the 13th and 15th centuries.
The present Somali peoples are possessed of no general type. They are not pure Hamites, and their physical characteristics vary considerably, showing signs of interbreeding with Galla, Afar, Arabs, Abyssinians and negroes. They are a race of magnificent physique, tall, active and robust, with fairly regular features, but showing negro blood in their complexion and hair.
There are four classes in Somaliland : nomads who breed camels, ponies, sheep and cattle, live on milk and meat, and follow the rains in search of grass ; settled Somali, comparatively few, living in or near the coasts; (3) outcast races, not organized in tribes but living scattered all over Somaliland; they are hunters, workers in iron and leather, and the chief collectors of gum and resin; (4) traders. The national dress is the "tobe," a simple cotton sheet of two breadths sewn together, about 15 ft. long. Generally, it is thrown over one or both shoulders, a turn given round the waist, and allowed to fall to the ankles. The "tobes" are of all colours from brown to white. A ceremonial "tobe" of red, white and blue, each colour in two shades, with a narrow fringe of light yellow, is sometimes worn.
The Somali are a fighting race and all go armed with spear, shield and short sword and, since they have been procurable, guns. During the rains intertribal lootings of cattle are common, save where the authority of the paramount power is sufficient to pre serve peace. Among certain tribes those who have killed a man have the right to wear an ostrich-feather in their hair. They are great talkers, keenly sensitive to ridicule, and quick-tempered. The Somali love display; they are inordinately vain and avaricious; they are very intelligent and quick witted and make loyal and trustworthy soldiers. The great interest in life with the nomads, the most numerous class, is their camels.
The Somali are divided into a multiplicity of rers or fakidas (tribes, clans). Three main divisions have been clearly de termined.
I. The Hashiya (Abud's Asha), with two great subdivisions: Daroda, with the powerful Mijertins, War-Sangeli, Dolbohanti and others ; and Ishak, including the Gadibursi, Issa (Isa), Habr-Wal, Habr-Tol, Habr-Yuni, Babibili, Bertiri. All these claim descent from a member of the Hashim branch of the Koreish (Mohammed's tribe), who founded a powerful State in the Zaila district. All are Sunnites, and, although still speaking their Somali national tongue, betray a large infusion of Arab blood in their oval face, somewhat light skin, and remarkably regular features. Their domain comprises the whole of British Somaliland, and probably most of Italian Somaliland.
2. The Hawiya, with numerous sub-groups, such as the Habr Jalet, Habr-Gader, Rer-Dollol, Daji, Karanle, Badbadan, Kunli, Bajimal and Ugass-Elmi ; mostly fanatical Mohammedans form ing the powerful Tarika sect, whose influence is felt throughout all the central and eastern parts of Somaliland. The Hawiya domain comprises the Ogaden plateau and the region generally between the Nogal and Webi-Shebeli rivers. Here contact has been chiefly with the eastern Galla tribes.