hubshi

Updated: April 30, 2025

"I have avenged my people and myself," replied Moussa Isa, "even as I said, I go to Aden Jail where there are men, and where a Somal is known from a Hubshi" "You go to hang across the road there at Duri Gaol," replied the babu, and earnestly hoped to find himself a true prophet.

Percival Christopher Wren - Driftwood Spars: The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who: Strangely Met Upon the Sea of Life

"And you tried to kill another boy because he called you 'Hubshi, eh?" "I did, Sahib, and I will kill him yet if I be not sent to Aden. If that fail I will kill myself also." "Stout fella," commented the Inspector in his own vernacular, and added, musing aloud: "You'll come to the gallows through possessing pride, self-respect and determination, my lad.

Percival Christopher Wren - Driftwood Spars: The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who: Strangely Met Upon the Sea of Life

No, the Brahmin would scream and struggle and the overseer would be on Moussa Isa in a single bound. He must strike a sudden blow in the act of passing. A few more journeys to the water-tap.... Now! "Hubshi," eh? Halting beside the crouching Brahmin youth, Moussa Isa swung up the heavy watering-can by the spout and aimed a blow with all his strength at the side of his enemy's head.

Percival Christopher Wren - Driftwood Spars: The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who: Strangely Met Upon the Sea of Life

"Later on," replied Moussa Isa, using the words that express the general attitude of the East. "Now, dog. Now, Hubshi, or I will beat thee." "I will kill you," replied Moussa Isa, and again bided his time. "Hubshi, Hubshi, Hubshi," goaded the misguided fat one. His Kismet led the youth, some weeks later, to lay him down and sleep in the shade of the house upon some broad flagstones.

Percival Christopher Wren - Driftwood Spars: The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who: Strangely Met Upon the Sea of Life

Had called Moussa Isa of the Somal a Hubshi, as though he had been a common black nigger. And, of course, it was intentional, for even this eater of dogs and swine and lizards knew the great noble, civilized and cultured Somal, Galla, Afar and Abyssinian people from niggers.

Percival Christopher Wren - Driftwood Spars: The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who: Strangely Met Upon the Sea of Life

And Moussa Isa licked his chops just as he had seen the black-maned lion do in his own fatherland; just as did the lion from whom the fair Sheikh had saved him. Toward the sailor, Moussa felt no resentment for the assault that had laid him bleeding in the gutter. Had he called him "Hubshi" it would have been a different matter perhaps very different for the sailor.

Percival Christopher Wren - Driftwood Spars: The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who: Strangely Met Upon the Sea of Life

"Why do you want to go back to Aden?" he inquired in the lingua franca of the Indian Empire, of Moussa whose heart beat high with hope. "Because here, where there are no lions, wolves think a lion is a dog; here where there are no men, asses think a man is a monkey. I am a Somal, and these ignorant camels think I am a negro a filthy Hubshi."

Percival Christopher Wren - Driftwood Spars: The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who: Strangely Met Upon the Sea of Life

One day he received a blow, a curse, and an insult, from the maccudam or foreman of the gang that worked in the boat which he steered. Neither blows nor curses were of any particular account to Moussa, but this man Sulemani, a nondescript creature of no particular race, and only a man in the sense that he was not a woman nor a quadruped, had called him "Hubshi" Woolly One.

Percival Christopher Wren - Driftwood Spars: The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who: Strangely Met Upon the Sea of Life

"'He hath many hours' start, Moussa, said my brother, 'and his camel is a good one. He will not halt and sleep for many hours even though he suppose me dead! "'I can run for a day; for a day and a night I can run, replied the Somali, 'and I can run until the hour of thy vengeance cometh. He called me "Hubshi" ... and he ran on.

Percival Christopher Wren - Driftwood Spars: The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who: Strangely Met Upon the Sea of Life

Meanwhile, the Oriental, with tears and lamentable howlings, wound about the doctor's leg, a vocal worm, deprecating tyranny. "Your Honour is my father and mother. Let the hand of justice refrain from excoriating the person of the unfortunate, wreaking double vengeance upon the hubshi, who is but fuel for Hell, like all his accursed race, and full explanation shall be made."

Richard Dehan - The Dop Doctor