Der Krieg gegen den Mullah Abdullah im Somalilande 1899-1901.*)

Nr. 12490. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Generalkonsul Sadler an der Somaliküste an den Minister des Ausw. Berichtet über das Auftreten eines Mullah Abdullah als Propheten in Dolbahanta. Er schlägt eine Expedition vor.

Berbera, April 12, 1899. (April 27.**)

(Extract.) || On my return from Zeyla in the middle of last month I found conflicting reports current in Berbera regarding the doings of a Mullah, by name Haji Muhammad Abdullah, in the Dolbahanta country, who, it was said, was collecting arms and men with a view to establishing his authority over the south-eastern portion of the Protectorate. It was also freely rumoured that it was his ultimate object, should he find himself strong enough, to head a religious expedition against the Abyssinians. || This Haji Muhammad Abdullah belongs to the Habr Suleiman Ogaden tribe; he married into the Dolbahanta Ali Gheri, amongst whom he now lives. His place of residence is Kob Fardod, a village inhabited by Mullahs, a day's march east of Kerritt, and distant about 170 miles from Berbera. He is a man in the prime of life, and in person is described as darkcoloured, tall, and thin, with a small goat's beard. He has made several pilgrimages to Mecca during the last three years. At Mecca be attached himself to the sect of Muhammad Salih, whose deputy he claims to be in Somaliland. This sect was established in Berbera about twelve years ago. It preaches more regularity in the hour of prayer, stricter attention. to the forms of religion, and the interdiction of Kata leaf the Arabs and coast Somalis are much addicted to chewing on account of its strengthen

*) Blaubuch Cd. 597. 1901.

**) Die eingeklammerten Daten geben das Datum der Ankunft in London an. Red,

Staatsarchiv LXVI.

1

ing and intoxicating properties. This teaching has not found much. favour with the people of the town. It has been known for some time that Haji Muhammad Abdullah had acquired considerable influence over the Habr Toljaala and Dolbahanta tribes inhabiting the remoter parts of the Protectorate, but hitherto it had always been thought that this influence had been exerted for good; he settled disputes amongst the tribes in his vicinity, kept them from raiding each other, and was generally thought to be on the side of law and order. Several communications had passed between him and the Vice-Consul (Berbera), all written in proper terms, and three months ago he sent a prisoner into Berbera, against whom a complaint had been laid of robbery and violence in the interior. || Inquiries were at once set on foot to ascertain what the rumours and reports concerning this individual meant, on what they were founded, and what his possible intentions might be. The result, and his own communications made within the last few days to the Vice-Consul, leave no room to doubt but that he is now organizing a religious movement antagonistic to the Administration. || It is difficult to get accurate information regarding his doings and future intentions, both on account of the distance he is off, and because all those who willingly or under compulsion join his sect are sworn to say nothing about him, and an oath, though not usually binding on a Somali, is so when administered by a man of such reputed sanctity and power as this Mullah. The position, though, as I gather it after sifting the various reports I have heard, is as follows:

The Mullah has abandoned his former practice of merely redressing grievances, and has commenced to proclaim himself a power in the land. He forces all within his reach to join his sect, and threatens expeditions against the Dolbahanta tribes who hold aloof. He levies blackmail for the support of his followers when supplies, which are freely given by the tribes whom he has brought under his influence, fail. He has amongst his followers several bad and suspicious characters, who probably use his name for their own purposes. He lays claim to the possession of supernatural powers, such as being able to hear with his own ears in the Dolbahanta what is being said of him in Berbera, with the usual story of being able to turn bullets into water. || This is believed in by more ignorant people of that far-off district. It is to this belief in his supernatural powers, coupled with the fact that he has undoubtedly done much to preserve the peace in the Dolbahanta, and the power he now has of enforcing his orders through a large following, and the possession of fire-arms, that his hold over the Dolbahanta country has become so strong. || The tribes over whom this Mullah has more immediately con

solidated his influence are: in the Dolbahanta, the Bahr-as-Samah, the Arar Samah, and the Ali Gheri; other sections of the Girad Farah are under his sway, and the powerful Mahmood Girad, against whom he threatened to send an expedition, are now said to have sent him a deputation of 300 horsemen. In the Habr Toljaala country the Aden Madoba and the Yesaf have joined themselves to him, and possibly other tribes in that vicinity. || In the Habr Gerhajis country, beyond espousing the cause of Madar Hirsi, he failed to effect anything they would have none of him. I do not think there is any chance of his extending his influence over the two large Ishak tribes the Habr Gerhajis and the Habr Awal these might be depended on to operate against him. With the tribes under his sway we have no quarrel. || Owing to its distance from the coast, we have hitherto exercised no effective control over the Dolbahanta country, and have interfered but little in its affairs. Dolbahanta caravans come with regularity into Berbera, but beyond this we have but little information available as to the country and the character of its inhabitants. Since 1891, when, for various reasons, it was decided not to enter into engagements with the Dolbahanta tribes, their country has been visited but twice - once by Captain Welby in 1895, and once by Captain Merewether in 1896-97. On each occasion these parties were received well, but their object was a friendly one. What the attitude of these tribes would be in a move against this Mullah is as yet doubtful. According to some reports which have reached me, the adhesion of some of these tribes is due more to fear than in any particular interest in the Mullah's cause, and some might be glad to be rid of him. The Dolbahanta is now an integral portion of our Protectorate, and though we have not hitherto exerted our influence there, we cannot tolerate such a state of affairs as would follow the establishment of this Mullah's rule, under the conditions which are now apparent. Nor can we permit this man to import arms against our orders, and use them to terrorize our unarmed tribes. At the same time, it would be a difficult business at present to seize this Mullah or to disarm him. || The best means of meeting this situation in the Dolbahanta would, I think, be to organize a military promenade. It seems necessary in Somaliland to make a display of force in the interior every four or five years, and such a display has never been made in the eastern portions of our Protectorate. All the people there know of us is what they have seen of the few small parties that have visited their country and what they have heard from their caravans frequenting our ports. It is now four years since the Rer Harad expedition was undertaken, and the good

effect it produced is wearing off. So far as is known, the Mullah has some 3000 men. After the rains fall in this month and May the tribes now round him will be moving to the Haud, and he will be left with a comparatively small following. This is the time I should choose for an expedition. No opposition would be met with unless operations were directly taken against this man, and as regards that I should have to be guided by the circumstances as I find them.

Nr. 12491. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Derselbe an Denselben. Die Macht Abdullahs breitet sich aus.

Camp Sheikh, June 5, 1899. (June 27.)

(Extract.) || The position of affairs in the Dolbahanta shows no improvement, and the reports which reach me point to a further extension of Mullah Abdullah's influence. He is now on his way back from an expedition against the Mahmood Girad, who lately raided the Ali Gheri. He is said to have been well received by this tribe, who returned the looted property and gave him a present of fifty horses. How far they have otherwise come under his influence is not reported. || Mullah Abdullah has emissaries in the Habr Toljaala and Habr Yunis countries endeavouring to win over the more influential persons of the tribes; our Akils have been tampered with, and in one or two instances overtures have been made to our officials to join the Mullah's cause. There are further direct signs in the direction of the Dolbahanta of enmity to all those in the service of the Protectorate. It is no yet known how far this is to be attributed directly to the Mullah, or to those of his immediate following who have been expelled from Aden, or who, for other reasons, are not in the favour of the Administration. || My present object is to confine this movement, if possible, to the eastern districts and prevent its spreading to the Ishak tribes, and with this view I am now on my way to visit the nearer sections of the Habr Yunis and Habr Gerhajis tribes, who have not yet migrated to the Haud.

Nr. 12492. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Derselbe an Denselben. Das

selbe. Haltung des Sultans Nur.

Hargaisa, July 16, 1899. (July 31.) In my despatch of the 16th ultimo, I informed your Lordship of the state of affairs amongst the Habr Yunis tribes, and

My Lord,

noted that I was awaiting an opportunity of ascertaining the attitude that would be assumed by Sultan Nur. || This, I regret to say, is one of declared hostility. || I waited for some time after he had returned to his country, and then sent him a civil letter, pointing out that he had not as yet come to visit me, as is usual when my camp is in his limits, and desiring him to come in, as there were several matters I wished to discuss with him. This was on the 27th ultimo, and my camp was then at Bagan, in Habr Yunis territory. || No reply was sent to this letter; but on the 10th instant the camel so war who had conveyed it to Sultan Nur returned to my camp near Hargaisa without his camel, arms, and uniform, of which he reported he had been stripped by order of Sultan Nur. According to his statement, he made his escape just as he was about to be sent to the Mullah Muhammad Abdullah. || I at once wrote Sultan Nur a stern letter of warning, which I dispatched by an Aida galleh messenger. In this letter I demanded the immediate return of the sowar's effects, pointed out to Sultan Nur that he could not contend against us, and that it was foolish of him to be led away by the ill-advice of designing persons, adding that if he takes heed in time, and comes into my camp now, he will be given ,,aman" to come and go, otherwise, if he continues this attitude he has assumed, the consequences will fall on his own shoulders, and they will be severe. || I thought it better to give him another chance of clearing himself, if he would, for several reasons. In the first place, we are not prepared for active measures yet, and it was necessary to take notice of such an act as he had just committed; again, I know him to be a weak, vain man, easily led, whose head has been turned by the praise and flattery showered upon him by the Mullah, and by the position he imagines he has attained of supremacy over his tribe through the Mullah's influence. || If he comes in, I propose to inflict a fine on him for his conduct to the sowar who took him my letter. If he continues his present attitude of hostility, and the measures I shall take at our port towns in stopping his supplies do not bring him to reason, I can see no other course open but to proceed against him actively early in the cold season, if he be still within our reach. || I have already informed your Lordship that the Habr Yunis are divided, and that this time last month only the eastern sections of the tribe had so far been affected by the Mullah's movement, the western section awaiting the return of Sultan Nur. Nur had called a large meeting of the tribe for the 22nd instant at Odweina, and I had arranged to have a man present to report what takes place. Yesterday I received letters from Haji Musa, the Head of the Mullah community of Hahiya, informing me that the westerly