[21] The circumstances of Masud's murder were truly African. The slave caravans from Abyssinia to Tajurrah were usually escorted by the Rer Guleni, a clan of the great Eesa tribe, and they monopolised the profits of the road. Summoned to share their gains with their kinsmen generally, they refused upon which the other clans rose about August, 1854, and cut off the road. A large caravan was travelling down in two bodies, each of nearly 300 slaves; the Eesa attacked the first division, carried off the wives and female slaves, whom they sold for ten dollars a head, and savagely mutilated upwards of 100 wretched boys. This event caused the Tajurrah line to be permanently closed. The Rer Guleni in wrath, at once murdered Masud, a peaceful traveller, because Inna Handun, his Abban or protector, was of the party who had attacked their proteges: they came upon him suddenly as he was purchasing some article, and stabbed him in the back, before he could defend himself. [22] In Zayla there is not a single coffee-house. The settled Somal care little for the Arab beverage, and the Bedouins' reasons for avoiding it are not bad. "If we drink coffee once," say they, "we shall want it again, and then where are we to get it?" The Abyssinian Christians, probably to distinguish themselves from Moslems, object to coffee as well as to tobacco. The Gallas, on the other hand, eat it: the powdered bean is mixed with butter, and on forays a lump about the size of a billiard-ball is preferred to a substantial meal. [23] The following genealogical table was given to me by Mohammed Sharmarkay:-- 1. Ishak (ibn Ahmed ibn Abdillah). 2. Gerhajis (his eldest son). 3. Said (the eldest son; Daud being the second). 4. Arrah, (also the eldest; Ili, _i.e._ Ali, being the second). 5. Musa (the third son: the eldest was Ismail; then, in succession, Ishak, Misa, Mikahil, Gambah, Dandan, &c.) 6. Ibrahim. 7. Fikih (_i.e._ Fakih.) 8. Adan (_i.e._ Adam.) 9. Mohammed. 10. Hamid. 11. Jibril (_i.e._ Jibrail). 12. Ali. 13. Awaz. 14. Salih. 15. Ali. 16. Sharmarkay. The last is a peculiarly Somali name, meaning "one who sees no harm."-- Shar-ma-arkay. [24] Not the hereditary chieftainship of the Habr Gerhajis, which belongs to a particular clan. [25] The following is a copy of the document:-- "This Testimonial, together with an Honorary Dress, is presented by the British Resident at Mocha to Nagoda Shurmakey Ally Sumaulley, in token of esteem and regard for his humane and gallant conduct at the Port of Burburra, on the coast of Africa, April 10. 1825, in saving the lives of Captain William Lingard, chief officer of the Brig Mary Anne, when that vessel was attacked and plundered by the natives. The said Nagoda is therefore strongly recommended to the notice and good offices of Europeans in general, but particularly so to all English gentlemen visiting these seas."