WARRIOR TRIBESMEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 8, 22 October 1935, Page 8

WARRIOR TRIBESMEN

THE DANAKIL AT HOME.

<‘NOTORIOUSLY TREACHEROUS. ’’ A graphic impression of the Danakil is given by Wilfred Thesiger in the following passage in an article about his exploration of the River Hawash that does not reach the sea:—“The only entrance into Badhu (a section of tiie* Danakil country) from this side runs along; the foot of the Ayalon escarpment, and is confined on the right by the impassable swamp of Motaka. „ This place has a bad name for ambushes, and many attacks on Badhu have come to grief here, as the numerous graves along the hillside testify. I was thankful when we emerged into the fertile plains beyond. It was densely populated. The river banks were lined with huts, beehive structures formed of can*! mats thrown over a framework of bent sticks. Great herds of cattle and sheep were spread out over the plain, and I noticed numerous well-cared-for ponies, used solely for

raiding. “There was a large gathering of warriors assembled under one of the great ‘ shola ’ trees which dot the river bank. Like all Danakalis, they were beautifully-built men, clad in. short loin-cloths. The Danakil here posssse, practically without exception, ‘fusils gras/ but they are short of cartridges, and it is uncommon to see anyone with mere than 10 in his belt. They carry theirrifles across their backs. Many of them had spears and all wore the wellknown Danakali knife —a formidable curved weapon with a blade 18m long and sharp on both sides. Our reception lacked cordiality, and the Danakalis tried to provoke a quarrel with my Somalis, saying that we were Essa, with whom they were at war. We managed to bluff them into thinking my rifle case contained a machine-gun. But a present of some sheep did not reassure us, since these people are notoriously treacherous. The night, however, passed off quietly, arid next day we marched down to the village of a very ancient and autocratic savage called Affeodham. He insisted upon us camping among liis hovels in the midst of a most malarious bog.”