Richard Burton on Somalia/Somalis/Harar

[N.O.R.F]

Link

[Jacaylbaro]

Thanks Northerner ,,,,, i've been looking for this book ages and ages

[N.O.R.F]

During the space of a week the spouse remains with his espoused, scarcely ever venturing out of the hut; his friends avoid him, and no lesser event than a plundering party or dollars to gain, would justify any intrusion. If the correctness of the wife be doubted, the husband on the morning after marriage digs a hole before his door and veils it with matting, or he rends the skirt of his Tobe, or he tears open some new hut-covering: this disgraces the woman’s family.

The Somal know none of the exaggerated and chivalrous ideas by which passion becomes refined affection amongst the Arab Bedouins and the sons of civilisation, nor did I ever hear of an African abandoning the spear and the sex to become a Darwaysh. Their “Hudhudu,” however, reminds the traveller of the Abyssinian “eye-love,” the Afghan’s “Namzad-bazi,” and the Semite’s “Ishkuzri,” which for want of a better expression we translate “Platonic love.”25 This meeting of the sexes, however, is allowed in Africa by male relatives; in Arabia and Central Asia it provokes their direst indignation. Curious to say, throughout the Somali country, kissing is entirely unknown.

 

Children are carried on their mothers’ backs or laid sprawling upon the ground for the first two years26: they are circumcised at the age of seven or eight, provided with a small spear, and allowed to run about naked till the age of puberty. They learn by conversation, not books, eat as much as they can beg, borrow and steal, and grow up healthy, strong, and well proportioned according to their race.

 

[Fabregas]

Richard Burton was a good spy and he wrote alot of rubbish about Somalis......Have you guys seen the forbidden journey documentary about Harar?

[Jacaylbaro]

No ,,, where is it ??

[Ariadne]

when was this written?

[Ibtisam]

Geel Jire:

 

From the little I read of Richard Burton I enjoyed, and i thought it was a true reflection. Have you got a link for what you read?

[Centurion]

More famously he journeyed to Mecca and medina in disguise. And in those days being discovered meant death.

[-Nomadique-]

Xanthus, you wouldn't call it a true reflection once you read the passage describing Somali women LOL.

[Abdulladiif Al-Fiqih]

The children of Darud are now divided into two great bodies: “*****” is the family name of the Dulbahanta, Ogadayn, Warsangali and Mijjarthayn, who call themselves sons of ***** bin Kombo bin Kabl Ullah bin Darud: the other Darud tribes not included under that appellation are the Girhi, Berteri, Marayhan, and Bahabr Ali.

War gaalku been-badanaa ileyn wuxuu soomaalida kaqoro waa wadaa noocaas!

[Jacaylbaro]

Dad uun baa rumaystay ,,,,,,,,,, since we don't have a strong and written history then let those gaalos play with it