The Abyssinian Invasion of
But the Acting Consul for the Somali Coast, Captain Sealy, reported to the British Agent and Consul General in Cairo saying that there were rumours reaching Aden to the effect that Menelek of Shoa “is about to march on Harrar with 60,000 men, and that intimation of this has been given by Abubakr Pasha of Zaila by one of his sons in Shoa.” Sealy said that he was not sure whether there was any truth in the news and asked information on the subject and the cause of the threatened attack.
Major Hunter also reported on January 22, 1887 that
“Menelek, King of Shoa, was within three days’ march of Harrar, and that the Emir had gone out with all his forces to fight the Abyssinians, who were said to be accompanied by several Italians.
Jebril Marijou, Interpreter to Menelek, King of Shoa, has been in Zeyla for some days past, and has informed M. Estemios Moussaya that King Menelek, at the insti-gation of the French, is about to attack Harrar.
The army, which has already started, consist of 15,000, men of which 5,000 are cavalry, and the remainder in-fantry and artillery. They are waiting in the Galla country for the arrival of a French kafila from Tajourra, which is taking them a large supply of Remington rifles and ammunition. Muhammad Abu Bakr (one of the Pasha’s sons) and some Frenchmen are with the kafila, which left Tajourra more than a month ago. My information states that the march of the army will probably be delayed by the standing crops of jowari in the Galla country.”
As it turned out the Abyssinians forces were, indeed, moving towards Harrar. Next day the (British) Resident at Aden telegraphed that the Emir of Harrar had been totally defeated by the Abyssinians and had fled with his family to Ogaden territory.
After invading and occupying Harrar, Menelek sent the following letter from Harrar on January 8 (20th January 1887) to the British Consul at Aden:
OGADEN (ABYSSINIA)
“From—MENELEK, King of Shoa and of all the Galla, good and bad,
“To—The English Consul at Aden.
“How are you?
“By the Grace of God, I am well. Amir Abdillahi would suffer no Christian in his country.
“He was another “Gragne” but by the help of God I fought him, destroyed him, and he escaped alone on horseback.
“I hoisted my flag in his capital and my troops, &c., occupied his city. Gragne died: Abdillahi was in our days his successor.
“This is not a Mussalman country as every one knows.”
The British Consul at Aden replied to Melenek’s letter on February 10, 1887:
“From—Major F. M. HUNTER, Political Agent and Consul for the Somali Coast,
“To—KING MENELEK, Negus of Shoa, Efat, and the Gallas, & c.
“After compliments—We have received Your Majesty’s friendly letter informing us that you captured and occupied Harrar and hoisted your flag there.
“There can be no need to recall the terms of the treaty concluded with Her Majesty the Queen in 1841 by Your Majesty’s predecessor King Sahela Selassie, Negus of Shoa, Efat and Galla.
“Your Majesty may rest assured of the continued friendship of the British Government, and we hope that under Your Majesty’s protection may revive and the trade route be safe.
“On all the Somali Coast from Ghubbet Kharab, and especially at Zaila, Bulhar and Berbera, where our troops are now stationed, we shall always be glad to further Your Majesty’s interests.”*
* Foreign Department—Secret, E. June 1887, N.212-272—NAI, New Delhi, India.
HARAR
In view of the Abyssinian claims, it must be explained that when Harrar was evacuated, Abdullahi, a son of the last reigning Amir, was installed as a Native Chief. On March 27, 1886 an Italian commercial and scientific expedition started under Count Porro from Zaila for Harrar, and it is claimed that a party of Arabs sent from Harrar, after disarming the Italian detachment at Gildessa, fell upon the Italians at Arto and put them all to death. Britain’s Lord Rosebery disclaimed all res-ponsibility for the massacre and inquiries were being instituted with a view to ascertain how far the Amir was to blame, when, suddenly, news arrived of the capture of Harrar in January 1887 by King Menelek of Shoa.
Menelek announced his capture of Harrar in a
“friendly” letter to Major Hunter. The London Foreign Office was cautious, as it considered it necessary to avoid any recognition of Menelek’s independence which might offend King John of Abyssinia. Menelek withdrew in February leaving Makunan as his Governor of Harrar, and the latter opened friendly correspondence with the British. For several months after this British officers constantly expected that the people of Harrar would turn out the Abyssinians. The British authorities ruefully noted: “But they have never done so, and the Abyssinians having conquered Harrar after our protectorate treaties can hardly dispute our prior rights, although, being irritated at our recognition of the Italian protectorate, they have in recent years claimed Somali Land as part of their dominion. Since Makunan’s establishment at Harrar we have repeatedly treated his overtures with coldness, and given him to understand that our external relations in respect of Abyssinia were arranged with Italy. Despite, however, our delimitation with Italy, Biyo Kabobo, on the Harrar road inside our limits, was occupied in 1891-92 by the Abyssinians, who also have recently hoisted a flag still further inside our boundary at
Alalo. We have just destroyed the flag and some huts there.”
The withdrawal of the Egyptian troops from Harrar took place in the first week of November 1884. Major Hunter reported from Zaila on November 7, 1884, that
”the first detachment, consisting of 1,036 persons: 1 Pasha, 12 Civilians, 11 Officers, 498 Men, 277 Women, 237 Children, 3 Guns, and 54 Horses reached the Coast about November 12, 1884.” Mr. Roof, the Assistant Director of the Khedivial steamers arranged with Major Hunter that the S.S. Mahalla should be at Zaila ready to embark this party. Within a month three detachments of the same strength left Harrar. The Egyptian garrison left Zaila on November 4, 1884 for Narghileh via Aden on board Mahalla. Following arrangements were made for the future administration of the place:
The Pasha Abubakr (was ) to remain as nominal Civil Governor on his previous salary (Rs. 700) so long as the Egyptian flag continued to fly. The real authority was vested in the British Agent and Vice Consul (at that time Kingsmill, Royal Navy, on Rs. 150 per mensem depu-tation allowance). The rest of the staff:
Agent Rs. 50
1 Clerk Rs 30
1 Dragoman Rs 40
1 Sweeper Rs 16
1 Peon Rs 13
House-rent Rs 50
Contingencies Rs 20
A Police force, consisting of 30 armed and 18 unarmed constables:
1 Superintendent Rs. 250
1 Jamadar Rs 35
1 Havidar Rs 17
2 First Class Constables Rs. 30 48 Second ditto Rs 624
The Kazi was re-appointed, and allowances for reli-gious services and political pensions continued as set forth below:
Kazi Rs 50
Mozzin Rs 5
Keeper of tomb Rs 5
Servant ditto Rs 2
Sayyid Alawi Rs 4
Hossain Muknoon Rs 6
Richard F. Burton has provided a brief account of the history of Harrar when its ruler had once dominated the region. He wrote in his book “First Footsteps in East Africa” that Harrar was a mere mass of Badawi villages during the reign (of ) Mohammed Gragne, “the left-handed”, (in the Somali dialect “Guray”), Attila of Adel.
In A.D. 1528 he took possession of Shoa, overran Amhara, burned the churches and carried away an immense booty.
The next campaign enabled him to winter at Begmeder;
in the following year he hunted the Emperor David through Tigre to the border of Sana’ar, gave battle to the Christians on the banks of the Nile, and with his own hand killed the monk Gabriel, then an old man. Guray captured and burned Axum, destroyed the princes of the royal blood on the mountain of Amba Geshe, and slew in A.D. 1540, David, third of his name and last emperor of Ethiopia who displayed the magnificence of “King of Kings.”
According to Burton, “Claudius, the successor to the tottering throne, sent as his Ambassador to Europe, one John Bermudez, a Portuguese who had been detained in Abyssinia, and promised, it is said, submission to the Pontiff of Rome, and the cession of a third of his domi-nions in return for reinforcements. By order of John III, Don Stephen and Don Christopher, sons of Don Vasco da Gama, cruised up the Red Sea with powerful flotilla, and the younger, slew Nur the Governor, and sent his head to
Gondar, where the Iteghe Sabel Wenghel received it as an omen of good fortune. Thence the Portuguese general imprudently marched in the monsun season, and was soon confronted upon the plain of Ballut by Mohammed Gragne at the head of 10,000 spearmen and a host of cavalry. On the other side stood rabble rout of Abys-sinians, and a little band of 350 Portuguese heroes headed by the most chivalrous soldier of a chivalrous age.
“Mohammed on his part was not idle. He solicited the assistance of the Moslem princes, and obtained a re-inforcement of 2000 musqueteers from the Arabs, and a train of artillery from the Turks of Al-Yaman. Encouraged by the assistance he received from the Muslim princes, Mohammed Guray attacked the Portuguese trenches.
Don Christopher had already one arm broken and a knee shattered by a musket shot. Burton says: “Valour was at length oppressed by superiority of numbers: the enemy entered the camp, and put the Christians to the spear. The Portuguese general escaped the slaughter with ten men, and retreated to a wood, where they were discovered by a detachment of the enemy. Mohammed overjoyed to see his most formidable enemy in his power, ordered Don Christopher to take care of a wounded uncle and nephew, telling him that he should answer for their lives, and upon their death, taxed him with having hastened it. The Portuguese roundly replied that he has come to destroy Moslems, not to save them. Enraged at this language, Mohammed placed a stone upon his cap-tive’s head, and exposed him to the insults of the soldiery, who inflicted upon him various tortures which he bore with the resolution of martyr.”
Richard Burton continued: “Mohammed Gragne im-proved his victory by chasing the young Claudius over Abyssinia, where nothing opposed the progress of his arms. At last the few Portuguese survivors repaired to the Christian Emperor, who was persuaded to march an
army against the King of Adel. Resolved to revenge their general, the harquebusiers demanded the post opposite Mohammed, and directed all their efforts against the part where the Moslem Attila stood.” Mohammed Gragne, known also as “Ahmed Guray” died in action. He was killed by the Portuguese who were on the side of the Abyssinians.
On February 26, 1887, the British Resident at Aden reported that ‘Menelek had withdrawn from Harrar, leaving about 3,500 men there, and that Ali Abubakr, who was Acting Governor, was collecting ransom, of which 13,500 out 30,000 dollars remained unpaid, and that it was believed that, when all was liquidated, the Abys-sinians would probably retire. Public safety was not assured, hence trade was slack.
Under the circumstances, it was not thought neces-sary to dispatch a (British) special messenger, and reply to the Abyssinian Commander’s letter. It was forwarded by the hand of the escort proceeding with a “Kafila” to Harrar. Only natives of the Somali country or Arabs were then used as protectors of caravans.
The report went on to state that little improvement in trade was expected until the retirement of the Amhara troops. It was believed that Ali Abubekr would be able to maintain his authority as Amir. And there was no reason to suppose that he would prove unfriendly to British interests.
After invading and occupying Harrar by force, the Abyssinians continued their adventure towards the rest of the Somali territories. The cruelty of the Abyssinians went to the extent of Makunan opposing even the digging of water wells for the Somalis.* Referring to a telegram of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs dated November 8, Her Majesty’s Consul for the Somali Coast Colonel
* Foreign Department, Letter from the British Consulate in Cairo, dated November 20, 1889, (Confidential at NAI New Delhi).
E.V.Stace reported that Makunan complained at Rome that the Zeyla authorities were digging a well in the Province of Mandaha belonging to Harrar. Col. Stace, replying to the complaint on November 10, 1889 wrote to the British Consul at Cairo:
“In reply to your telegram of yesterday’s date, infor-ming me that Makunan had complained at Rome that the Zeyla authorities were digging a well in the Province of Mandaha, and that the Italian Government asked for suspension of the work, I had the honour to reply by a telegram, of which a copy is attached. I now ask to be permitted to make a few remarks on the subject.
“The place where a party is now engaged in boring for a well is situated about 25 miles from Zeyla in the Mandaha Plain, near Dahab (please see Protectorate Map, route from Zeyla to Harrar). The work, which has received the sanction of the Government of India, was undertaken because there is no water between Hensa and Warabod, and, in the hot season, many men and animals have succumbed to thirst crossing the plain. The people of Zeyla and all those interested in the caravan route are most anxious that the work should be completed.
“When Makunan passed through Zeyla recently on his way to Italy, he asked to be permitted to participate in the work, but I declined this as impracticable and likely to delay ad infinitum, whilst it is of much importance that it should be completed as soon as possible. At the same time, knowing Makunan’s ideas of gradually extending his rule, it would not have been polite to give him even this small pretext for future claims. There is no doubt whatever that had it not been for the present Abyssinian relations with the Italians, Makunan would (have) never dreamt of asserting that the territory belonged to Harrar.
He thinks he now sees a good opportunity of a bold push forward, but he has not the remotest right to make the claim he now advances.
“No doubt when the Egyptians held Harrar, after the annexation of that town in 1874, the province of the same name was held to include the whole country to Zeyla, but also Jibuti, Tajourra, Obokh, Ras Bir, and eastward Berber, with even Ras Hafun. But, after the withdrawal of the Egyptians, Harrar became independent, and the town was captured by King Menelek in January 1887; he never conquered more than the town itself, and no claims that I am aware of have even been advanced to the rest of the province, which was called Harrar by the Egyptians.
Certain it is that the authorities of the Abyssinians has never extended further than the walls of the town. Even the Somali tribes, as the Noh and Jarsa, have deemed themselves independent, though Makunan has made several efforts to reduce them to submission. As for the Easa and Gadabursi, though nominally under Egyptian rule, they have never in the remotest degree been under Abyssinian rule, and the Easa country extends to Gildessa, which is 153 mile from Zeyla, or about 127 miles from where the well is being made, and throughout the whole of this territory Makunan has never had even nominal control. Under the Egyptians, the Province of Harrar proper was subdivided into four Moudiriehs, which lay “within the circumference of a circle, of which the centre is the city of Harrar, and the radius a distance of about 10 miles.”
“In the Convention of February 1888 between the English and French Governments, the respective sphere of influence of the two Governments were recognized as divided by the line from Lahada through Abassaen to Bingo-Kabobo (Biyokaboba). The last named place is 62 mile nearer to Harrar than the position of the well now being made.
“Finally it must be remembered that in 1884 we concluded a Treaty with the Easa tribe, by the 1st Article of which they are bound not to cede, sell, mortgage, or
otherwise give for occupation, save to the British Govern-ment, any portion of the territory inhabited by them or under their control. This manifestly admitted their complete independence from Harrar.
“Under the above circumstances, it is evident that, whatever the relations of the Abyssinians with Italy may be now or hereafter, the Government of the latter country has no right to interfere with our present action regarding the well, or indeed in any part of the Easa country.*
Earlier, Colonel E.V. Stace, sent the following tele-gram dated, Aden, November 9, 1889, to the British Consul in Cairo, Sir E. Baring:
“There is no Province of Mandaha. Well being dug within one day’s march of Zeyla. Makunan never had a shadow of authority there, nominal or otherwise. The territory belongs to Easa. The people wish the well, and Makunan himself offered to contribute toward the work.
The Italians have no reason to interfere, and it is of the utmost importance to resist this attempt. The Resident approves this Report.”
To substantiate his contention, Col. Stace cited the report prepared by the Assistant Resident of Zaila, Lieut.
J.L. Harrington who toured Isa and Gadabursi countries in May and June of 1896. In his long report on June 10, he stated:
“… Marched Arabeh to Hadawi (Harrawa valley)—12 miles, accompanied by Ughaz Nur, Makail Dera and Forlaba elders. En route passed skeletons of three ele-phants, which I was told had been killed by Somalis.
Today also received news that Aysa Nur, son of the Ughaz, has killed six elephants in the Takka Hills; after enquiry I ascertained that three was more like the correct number. About a mile and a half from Arabeh, came to place called Alalo where a spring issues from a white
* Foreign Department, Red Sea and Somali Coast–Confidential, Nov. 1889, NAI, New Delhi.
earthen bank. Where the water issues, it is so hot that one can do no more than dip one’s hand in it, withdrawing it as rapidly as possible. The spring sends up clouds of steam at its mouth.
“Some distance from the source there is a grass shed covering a basin which has been scooped out to an extent sufficiently large for two men to recline full length in it.
Shed and basin have been by the Abyssinians, who use the place somewhat as a health resort. Between the spring and bathing place on a high bank with naturally scarped sides, overlooking the stream, the Abyssinians have built about six grass huts, colonial in shape, sur-rounded by a thorn Zariba, for their accommodation when they visit Alalo.”
On June 11, Harrington arrived at Hadawi and camped near a Makail Dera Karia, where the Ughaz brought a sheep and a couple of goats as a present for the British Official. But Harrington commented:
“Knowing the insuperable objection the Somali have to parting with any of their property without receiving a substantial quid pro quo, I tried to avoid the acceptance of these animals from the Ughaz. I informed the Ughaz that, unless the Sarkar required animals, in which case he will ask for them, the Sarkar does not want people to bring them; moreover, in this case, the animals were not his property, but extracted from junglis by virtue of his authority as their Ughaz. I pointed out to him that the same remarks would be passed about me as were passed about the Abyssinians.”
The British Official added: “In the course of the dis-cussion, the Ughaz dropped the remarks that, when the English visit his country, they say they want nothing, whereas when the Abyssinians come, they always say their mouths are empty and come to him to fill them. He re-presented that ( I ) was putting indignity on him in refusing his offer, as he and other Somalis were on a