Bulhar (Bulahar, Somali: Bulaxaar) is a historic port town in the Sahil region of Somaliland with routes dating back to antiquity. The port was rejuvenated in the 19th century and was a rival to nearby Berbera.
Bulhar is situated near Berbera. The site is believed to correspond with the ancient commercial Port of Isis described by the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder.[2] Pliny also associated the area with the toponym Abalito, which Said M-Shidad Hussein writes is likely the Avalite of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.[3]
According to Pliny, the Port of Isis was a center for myrrh commerce. He likewise noted that the Egyptian Pharaoh Sesostris led his forces passed the region en route to the northeastern port of Mosylon, a cinnamon hub that is believed to have been in or close to present-day Bosaso.[3] Additionally, Pliny indicated that the Port of Isis was located near stone pillars on which unknown letters were engraved.[3][4]Samuel Sharpe suggests that these old inscriptions were probably hieroglyphical.[4]
Early Modern Period
A street in Bulhar in 1912
Although Bulhar's roots date back to antiquity, the settlement was not repopulated until the mid-19th century. The re-establishment of Bulhar was due to a dissension between the mercantile Reer Ahmed Nur and Reer Yunis Nuh lineages of the Habar Awal clan over the control of the trade of Berbera in 1845. With the support of Haji Sharmarke Ali Saleh, the ruler of Zeila, the Reer Ahmed Nuh drove out their kinsmen and declared themselves the sole commercial masters of Berbera. In retaliation for their expulsion, the Reer Yunis Nuh merchants founded the port of Bulhar and persuaded their past foreign trade contacts to do business at their port over Berbera. This act had an almost immediate effect as trade at Bulhar grew rapidly in the latter half of the 19th century, with the port becoming a major market for livestock, hide (skin), myrrh, ivory, coffee, and other various goods procured from the interior.[5][6][7]
According to several European explorers who traveled through much of the Somali Peninsular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Berbera and Bulhar's extensive trade links covered large tracks of the Somali and Ethiopian interiors, and the merchants from Berbera and Bulhar had trade contracts with merchants from as far as Mogadishu and Merca:
Nearly all trade for Ogadayn goes from Bulhar; but we found on the Webbe that we had, as it were, reached the point at which merchants from Berbera and Bulhar meet those from Merka and Mogadaxo (Madisha).[8]
Hargeisa is situated on the Tug Marodijeh, the banks of which are well wooded, and as it can boast of an excellent climate all the year round, and is about half-way on the main route from Bulhar to Jig-jigga on the Abyssinian frontier, it is always likely to be of some importance to caravans. A large percentage of the trade from Ogadayn passes through it to Bulhar on the coast.[9]
On leaving Hargeisa we travelled for many miles through beautiful park-like land, alive with birds and jungle fowl. We met the usual Somali khafilas [trading caravans] of Habr-Awal men, carrying their skins, gums, ghee, and coffee to our port at Bulhar, situated between Berbera and Zeila.[10]
Demographics
Bulhar was historically inhabited by the Reer Yunis Nuh and reer Mohamoud but later inhabited by the Makahil sub-clan, both lineages of the wider Habr Awal clan.[11]
^FSAU/MOHL/UNICEF (April–May 2002). "SAHIL REGION SOMALILAND" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-02-25.
^Österreichische Leo-Gesellschaft, Görres-Gesellschaft, Anthropos Institute (1941). Anthropos, Volumes 35-36. Zaunrith'sche Buch-, Kunst- und Steindruckerei. p. 212. Archived from the original on 2014-09-22. Retrieved 22 September 2014.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
^ abcHussein, Said M-Shidad. (PDF). WardheerNews. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
^ abSharpe, Samuel (1836). The Early History of Egypt, from the Old Testament, Herodotus, Manetho, and the Hieroglyphical Inscriptions. E. Moxon. pp. 97–98. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
^Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, 1849, Volume 8, p. 185.
^Lewis, I. M. (1988). A Modern History of Somalia: Nation and State in the Horn of Africa. Westview Press. p. 35.
^Z. H., Kour (1981). The History of Aden, 1839-72. Cass. p. 72.
^ The Unknown Horn of Africa: An Exploration From Berbera to the Leopard River, by Frank Linsly James, p. 256
^ British Somaliland, by Ralph Evelyn Drake-Brockman, p. 67
^'Twixt sirdar & Menelik: an account of a year's expedition from Zeila to Cairo, p. 18, 1901
^Burton, Richard F. (2014-01-15). First Footsteps in East Africa; Or, an Exploration of Harar. Courier Corporation. ISBN978-0-486-78954-5."
bulhar, bulahar, somali, bulaxaar, historic, port, town, sahil, region, somaliland, with, routes, dating, back, antiquity, port, rejuvenated, 19th, century, rival, nearby, berbera, townruins, centre, townlocation, somalilandshow, sahil, somaliland, somaliland,. Bulhar Bulahar Somali Bulaxaar is a historic port town in the Sahil region of Somaliland with routes dating back to antiquity The port was rejuvenated in the 19th century and was a rival to nearby Berbera BulharTownRuins in the centre of the townBulharLocation in SomalilandShow map of Sahil SomalilandBulharBulhar Somaliland Show map of SomalilandCoordinates 10 24 02 N 44 25 12 E 10 40056 N 44 42000 E 10 40056 44 42000Country SomalilandRegionSahilDistrictBerberaPopulation 2002 1 Total300Time zoneUTC 3 EAT Contents 1 History 1 1 Antiquity 1 2 Early Modern Period 2 Demographics 3 ReferencesHistory EditAntiquity Edit Bulhar is situated near Berbera The site is believed to correspond with the ancient commercial Port of Isis described by the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder 2 Pliny also associated the area with the toponym Abalito which Said M Shidad Hussein writes is likely the Avalite of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea 3 According to Pliny the Port of Isis was a center for myrrh commerce He likewise noted that the Egyptian Pharaoh Sesostris led his forces passed the region en route to the northeastern port of Mosylon a cinnamon hub that is believed to have been in or close to present day Bosaso 3 Additionally Pliny indicated that the Port of Isis was located near stone pillars on which unknown letters were engraved 3 4 Samuel Sharpe suggests that these old inscriptions were probably hieroglyphical 4 Early Modern Period Edit A street in Bulhar in 1912 Although Bulhar s roots date back to antiquity the settlement was not repopulated until the mid 19th century The re establishment of Bulhar was due to a dissension between the mercantile Reer Ahmed Nur and Reer Yunis Nuh lineages of the Habar Awal clan over the control of the trade of Berbera in 1845 With the support of Haji Sharmarke Ali Saleh the ruler of Zeila the Reer Ahmed Nuh drove out their kinsmen and declared themselves the sole commercial masters of Berbera In retaliation for their expulsion the Reer Yunis Nuh merchants founded the port of Bulhar and persuaded their past foreign trade contacts to do business at their port over Berbera This act had an almost immediate effect as trade at Bulhar grew rapidly in the latter half of the 19th century with the port becoming a major market for livestock hide skin myrrh ivory coffee and other various goods procured from the interior 5 6 7 According to several European explorers who traveled through much of the Somali Peninsular in the 19th and early 20th centuries Berbera and Bulhar s extensive trade links covered large tracks of the Somali and Ethiopian interiors and the merchants from Berbera and Bulhar had trade contracts with merchants from as far as Mogadishu and Merca Nearly all trade for Ogadayn goes from Bulhar but we found on the Webbe that we had as it were reached the point at which merchants from Berbera and Bulhar meet those from Merka and Mogadaxo Madisha 8 Hargeisa is situated on the Tug Marodijeh the banks of which are well wooded and as it can boast of an excellent climate all the year round and is about half way on the main route from Bulhar to Jig jigga on the Abyssinian frontier it is always likely to be of some importance to caravans A large percentage of the trade from Ogadayn passes through it to Bulhar on the coast 9 On leaving Hargeisa we travelled for many miles through beautiful park like land alive with birds and jungle fowl We met the usual Somali khafilas trading caravans of Habr Awal men carrying their skins gums ghee and coffee to our port at Bulhar situated between Berbera and Zeila 10 Demographics EditBulhar was historically inhabited by the Reer Yunis Nuh and reer Mohamoud but later inhabited by the Makahil sub clan both lineages of the wider Habr Awal clan 11 Somaliland portalReferences Edit FSAU MOHL UNICEF April May 2002 SAHIL REGION SOMALILAND PDF Retrieved 2023 02 25 Osterreichische Leo Gesellschaft Gorres Gesellschaft Anthropos Institute 1941 Anthropos Volumes 35 36 Zaunrith sche Buch Kunst und Steindruckerei p 212 Archived from the original on 2014 09 22 Retrieved 22 September 2014 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint uses authors parameter link a b c Hussein Said M Shidad The Ancient Kingdom of Punt and its Factor in Egyptian History Part IV PDF WardheerNews Archived from the original PDF on 29 November 2014 Retrieved 22 September 2014 a b Sharpe Samuel 1836 The Early History of Egypt from the Old Testament Herodotus Manetho and the Hieroglyphical Inscriptions E Moxon pp 97 98 Retrieved 22 September 2014 Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society 1849 Volume 8 p 185 Lewis I M 1988 A Modern History of Somalia Nation and State in the Horn of Africa Westview Press p 35 Z H Kour 1981 The History of Aden 1839 72 Cass p 72 The Unknown Horn of Africa An Exploration From Berbera to the Leopard River by Frank Linsly James p 256 British Somaliland by Ralph Evelyn Drake Brockman p 67 Twixt sirdar amp Menelik an account of a year s expedition from Zeila to Cairo p 18 1901 Burton Richard F 2014 01 15 First Footsteps in East Africa Or an Exploration of Harar Courier Corporation ISBN 978 0 486 78954 5 Coordinates 10 23 02 N 44 25 12 E 10 3839 N 44 4200 E 10 3839 44 4200 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bulhar amp oldid 1146079293, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
