Abtigiis Posted July 21, 2008 Xassen-Waal Wildlife Park Midway between between Jigjiga and Dhagaxbuur, just off the main road, lies the vast expanse of Xassen Waal’s Park lies. Xassen was a shop owner in the town of Dhagaxbuur. But after repeatedly borrowing money from the commercial Bank, and failing to repay, his assets were confiscated and the shop sold on auction. Three years later, he left the town and decided to try the life of the wilderness. He set up a small hut and enclosed a vast land that nobody owned. He is from the area and his clan’s didn’t object for the enclosure as long as he doesn’t use it to dig Berked or to farm. His ideals were seen as ridiculous when he said he will bring ‘white’ tourists and charge them for the sightseeing. He quickly assembled a mesmerising stock of snakes, garnuug, Bakayle, Haram-cad, Hyena, Fox, Birds and other reptiles and mammals. After few years, foreigners and some wealthy locals who pass along the road started to show interest. It started Bal na soo tus waxaad haysid; but soon the man started charging people. One day, a group of white men descended onto the area to satisfy their curiosity. They were not tourists, but rather were passing by and decided to have a look. Of course, they were ready to pay the peanut that is requested by Xassen-Waal. The problem was Xassen was a very volatile and poor guide. And he refused to hire professionals, insisting on ‘ma dacwa tan la yidhaa baan nin u shaqaaleysan’! The day this group arrived, perhaps was the funniest day. One of the White men would ask what that snake is called. Ideally, in Snake world parks, you would expect to be told, “This is black Mamba or a Cobra or that. Its speed is x-km/per hour and it stings with the back teeth. If you don’t get anti-venom treatment, it kills within so and so hours or days.” But Xassen Waal’s description is different. He only tells them the name and waits for questions to follow. When they do, his answers are sharp and sarcastic. When he told the visiting team, that a partcilcuar snake ‘Kaas Abris baa la yidhaa’, one visitor asked him ‘Does it sting?’, he replied ‘Maya, wuu ku dhunkan ku dheh’. Others asked about the age of one hyena and he would angry say ‘maana ka dhaliyey anigu’. People admired his industriousness, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gediid Posted July 21, 2008 LOL@ maya wuu ku dhunkan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
