🧵A British pioneer sent on an expedition escaping imprisonment at the hands of the Habar Awal near Berbera, he was with Richard Burton and another man who camped at Berbera after the trade fair and had their camp raided at 2 AM, his comrades deserted him.
#Somaliland #somali
In the ensuing fight, Stroyan was killed by the Habar Awal - Makaahiil & Ciise musa savages, and Speke was captured and wounded in eleven places before he managed to escape. Burton was impaled with a javelin, the point entering one cheek and exiting the other.
Burton was previously was with the Warsangeli Sultan for a few months and had exercise some kind of authority in their land, by often threatening them with the power of the governor of Aden, but that didn't mean anything to the Habar Awal.
This wound left a notable scar that can be easily seen on portraits and photographs. He was forced to make his escape with the weapon still transfixing his head. It was no surprise then that he found the Somalis to be a "fierce and turbulent race".
The Habar Awal clan would go on to celebrate and would wear an ostrich feather for the murder of 'Lieutenant William Stroyan'.
The attack was led by a Habar Awal man, Aw Cali. “Aw” signifying a man of religion. He wasn’t happy that the Christians had a fresh water well.
Habar Awal warriors in Berbera.
#Somaliland
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