Somaliland
a country S. E. of Abyssinia on the coast of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, apportioned to Great Britain, France, and Italy. Two ranges of mountains traverse the peninsula S. E. to N. W., between which lies the Wadi Nogal, of which the natives speak in the most glowing terms. Several varieties of gum trees occur, and the mimosa, tamarisk, wild fig, and several species of the cactus and aloe are abundant. The wild beasts include the elephant, lion, leopard, hyena, wolf, and jackal. Several varieties of deer, jerboas, and squirrels are common. The Somâli are a fine race, mainly Mohammedans, though still in a barbarous state. The principal articles of trade or produce are myrrh, ivory, ostrich feathers, hides and horns, coffee, indigo, and gum arabic. A strip 180 miles broad on the coast was reserved to Italy by the treaty of Adis Abeba. By the Cairo convention, signed Jan. 19, 1899, the ports of Berbera and Zilah with the adjacent strip on the N. coast now belong to Great Britain. In 1898 Great Britain ceded to Abyssinia a part of Somaliland. See ABYSSINIA.