Forming themselves into tribes, the senior or Habr Gerhajis, by
constant feuds and other causes, are much distributed about the
country, but mostly occupy the hilly grounds to the southward of the
coast-line; whilst the Habr Owel, or second in order of birth, possess
all the coast of Berbera between Zeyleh and Kurrum; and the third, or
Habr Teljala, hold all the rest thence eastwards to Heis.

The Somali have been chiefly known to us since the time of our taking
occupation of Aden, whither many of them resort with their wives and
families to carry on trade, or do the more menial services of
porterage and donkey-driving. They are at once easily recognised by
the overland traveller by their singular appearance and boisterous
manner, as well as by their cheating and lying propensities, for which
they are peculiarly notorious; indeed, success in fraud is more
agreeable to them than any other mode of gaining a livelihood, and the
narration of such acts is their greatest delight in conversation. They
excel as donkey-boys even the Egyptians. As may be concluded from
their history, they are a mixed Ham-Shemitic race, but differing
considerably from both in their general appearance, though retaining
certain characteristics of both these breeds. They are a tall, slender
people, light and agile as deer; slightly darker than, though much the
colour of Arabs, with thin lip, and noses rather Grecian when compared
with those of blacks, but with woolly heads like the true negroes.
Their natures are so boisterous and warlike, that at Aden it has been
found necessary to disarm them. When they first arrived there, it was
not an unusual sight to see the men of different tribes, on the
hillsides that form the face of the "crater," fighting battles-royal
with their spears and shields; and even to this day, they, without
their arms, sometimes have hot contests, by pelting one another with
sticks and stones. There is scarcely a man of them who does not show