Voyages and travels to India, Ceylon, the Red Sea, ... v. 2. Mountnorris, George Annesley, Earl of, 1769-1844.Page. 376-377
The Samaulies, who inhabit the whole coast from Gardafui to
the Straits, and through whose territories the whole produce of the
interior of Africa must consequently reach Arabia, have been re-
presented by Mr. Bruce, and many others, as a savage race, with
whom it would be dangerous to have connection. I think that
this is an unjust accusation, and is sufficiently disproved by the
extent of their inland trade, their great fairs, and their large ex-
ports in their own vessels. A great number of them live close to
Mocha, and are a peaceable inoffensive race. Some Indian vessels
were wrecked on the coast between Mount Felix and Zeila ; the
chief immediately seized all the property, but he not only saved
the lives of the crews, but maintained them till they were sent to
Mocha. This might have led to a closer intercourse, had it not
been for the misconduct of the commander of a small vessel, who,
during the Egyptian expedition, stopped at the same place, and
tried to ſorce the chief to bring water on board, without being paid
for it. On receiving a civil refusal to this unreasonable request, he
sent his people on shore to storm the town. The inhabitants laid
an ambush, and cut them all off. The chief immediately wrote a
letter to Mr. Pringle, which I saw ; in it he professed his good will
towards the English, and cited his conduct towards the wrecked
mariners as a proof of his not wishing to injure that nation, but
stated, that it was out of his power to oblige his people to comply
with the unreasonable request of the Captain, and that the destruc-
tion of the assailants was only owing to their own misconduct. I
fear that this is not a solitary instance, and that, on every side of
Africa, the natives have occasionally had reason to consider a
stranger and an enemy as the same thing.
In their persons the Samaulies are neither Negroes nor Arabs
They have woolly hair, drawn out into points, in every direction,
but their noses are not flat. They are finely limbed, with a very º
dark skin, and beautifully white teeth. The expression of their /
countenance is neither fierce, nor unpleasing. I consulted several
of the respectable merchants of Aden and Mocha, respecting the
possibility of penetrating into the interior of Africa, by the cara-
vans, which return from Berbera, and they uniformly agreed that,
by securing the friendship of one of the Samauli chiefs, and
learning the language, an European might, in his own character,
make the journey in safety. It would certainly however be more
wise that he should pass for a Mussulmaun, but not for an Arab, a
nation whom they detest.
