The Mullah.

Manawatu Herald, 28 October 1902, Page 2

The Mullah.

The history, in brief, of the Mullah, and the origin of the rising, are as follows: —On April 12, 1899, Consul-General Sadler sent a despatch from Berbera regarding the doings of a Mullah who was collecting arms and men with the object of establishing his authority over the south-eastern portion of the Northern Somaliland Protectorate, and ultimately of heading a religious expedition against the Abyssinians, This

Haji Muhammad Abdullah belongs to the Habr Suleiman Ogaden tribe. He married into the Dalbahanta Ali Gheri, amongst whom he lives. His place of residence was Kob Fardod, a village inhabited by mullahs, a day’s march east of Kerritt, and distant about 170 miles from Berbera. He is a man in the prime of life, and in person is described as dark-coloured, tall, and thin, with a small goat’s beard. He has made several pilgrimages to Mecca he attached himself to the sect of Muhammad Salih, whose deputy he claims to be in Somaliland, This sect was established in Berbera about twelve years ago. It preaches more regularity in the hour of prayer, stricter attention to the forms of religion, and the introduction of the kat—a leaf of the Arabs and coast Somalis are much addicted to chewing, on account of its strengthening and intoxicating properties. This teaching has not found favour with the people of the town. It has been known for some time that Haji Huhammad Abullah had acquired considerable influence over the Habr Toliaala and Dolbahanta tribes, inhabiting the remoter parts of the protectorate, but hitherto it had always been thought that this influence had been exerted lor good. He settled disputes amongst the tribes in his vicinity, kept them from raiding each other, and was generally thought to be on the side of law and order. Several communications had passed between him and the Vice Consul (Berbera), all written in proper terms, and three months after the above despatch he sent a prisoner into Berbera, against whom a complaint had been laid of robbery and violence in the interior. Inquiries were at once set on foot to ascertain what the rumours and reports concerning this individual meant, on what they were founded, and what his possible intentions might be. The result, and his own communications made to the Vice-Consul, left no room to doubt but that he was organising a religious movement antagonistic to the Administration. From that time on there has been war between the Mullah on one side and Abyssinia and Britain on the other.