Northern Somali Trade

[Arkan]

Northern Somalia, off the Gulf of Aden, was roughly divided into two spheres, each with a different but interconnected method of commerce.

The Guban region, including Saylac/Berbera and its surrounding areas, as well as Bari/Maakhir, were part of these two spheres.

The eastern ports were the primary source of most of the frankincense, and the coastal area was more densely populated compared to the Guban.

Somalis (Harti) on the Eastern side of the coast were more oriented towards the ocean going lifestyle and the difference between the interior/coast was not as stark.

Here ties with Arabia and the Western India are expanded upon.

Las Khoray (Laasqoray) in particular was heavily tied to Mukalla which is directly North on the Yemeni coast.

The Majeerteen were effective frankincense dealers who received lucrative profits. Dhow building was also a historic practice there.

Gum exports reached approximated 1,000,000 kilos yearly and trade links were strong with Mauritius.

As well, the eastern ports supplied Berbera with 6,000 bales of Frankincense which was then sent down to Trieste (Italy).

The ports of Karin, Xiis alongside Las Khoray, and Ceelaayo were engaged heavily with Arab and Indian merchants who would later take said goods to Berbera.

Now on the western side of the Northern Somali coast also known as the Guban ports of Berbera and Saylac.

During trading season both towns would swell with populations in the tens of thousands.

Saylac was a commercial hotspot for Harar and the interior through which caravans passed the Ciise, and Gadabursi on their way between both towns. It's also noteworthy both of those clans controlled the trade routes to both Saylac and Berbera.

 

[Arkan]

Saylac port had significant ties to the east and goods were noted from Basra (Iraq), Assab (Eritrea), India, and nearby Berbera.

Saylac's trade was extensive with the Sultan of Harar providing coffee and viory coming from Oromo country.

The mercantile Ciise and Gadabursi brought slaves and thousands of other articles for trade.

Trade figures are staggering and only Berbera was able to output more or equivalent numbers to Saylac at a given year.

Both two Guban ports declined as a result of the French construction of Djibouti as you can see Saylac's exports and imports were already declining.

In Berbera the famous yearly fair brought Somalis of different clans, Arabs, and Indians to come trade.

With an estimated 60,000 present at peak.

Richard Burton repeated a well known Harari saying

'He who commands at Berberah , holds the beard of Harar in his hand'

The city alongside Saylac was the early supply of the world's coffee.

Again with Saylac alongside Berbera was source of goods all the way in central Sudan which were carried by Ethiopian merchants.

Somalis excluded Arabs during peak season and transported goods themselves to Mocha, and Aden in dhows.

 

[Arkan]

Caravans from the interior would bring Oromo slaves, ivory, and feathers

Both Arab and Indian merchants would would come from Yemen, India, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, etc to exchange goods and at various times with the Indians being the most cunning.

The magic of the Guban is the cool interior which pastoralists would leave after a given trading season.

The region's more gentle climate and strategic location to hubs such as Harar allowed trade to be generally higher.