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Saturday 28 December 2019

British Dammallia, German Mankanika, and the Sultanate of Marzibar: People and Places

Reading Archduke Piccolo's recent blog entry about imagi-nations (and his reference to some of my own), reminded me that I had prepared but never re-published the People and Places section of my old, defunct Colonial Wargaming website. The relevant maps can be found here.

ABONEY
The largest Firdarki settlement and the capital of Firdarkiland.

ABYDIN
An Olbele coastal village.

AKOPOTO
A Firdarki village.

ALBERT RIVER
The most important river in Dammallia.

Discovered and named by Sir Archibald Creep. Named after the Queen's late husband, Prince Albert.

ARASHA
A Mottenbele village.

ARGI-BARGI REBELLION
A revolt of the Nysenezi against Imperial German rule.

The rebellion was led by Mpoko Finka, a Nysenezi mystic.

ARORA JUNCTION
Landward terminus of the railway in Deutsches Sudan.

Scene of the massacre of the Imperial German garrison that precipitated the withdrawal of all German nationals from Deutsches Sudan.

BAACC
See: British Afro-Asian Colonial Company.

"BACCY", THE
A derogatory nickname for the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company.

The obvious derivation of the nickname is the initial letters of the Company's name, but it might also relate to the Company's abortive attempt to grow tobacco in Dammallia. The nickname has given rise to slang expressions for someone who is corrupt or who will accept a bribe – ‘He likes a nice smoke’, ‘He likes to dip his hand in the 'baccy jar'’, or ‘He likes his 'baccy'’ means that the person named will accept money from the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company (i.e. The ‘Baccy’).

BAD LIMBURG, PRINCE LEOPOLD OF
Distant nephew of Queen Victoria.

He is an ex-Major in the 4. Garde Grenadier Regiment of the Imperial German Army. Visited Dammallia during the Watawi War on the pretext of wanting to do some big game hunting, and 'arranged' to have himself 'invited' to join Sir Garnet Diamond's headquarters staff for the duration of the campaign. During the campaign he also acted as an unofficial observer for the General Staff of the Imperial German Army. His life was saved by Sir Garnet Diamond during a skirmish with a group of Watawi warriors, for which action Sir Garnet was awarded the Victoria Cross.

BDP
See: British Dammallian Police.

BAGGAR-TEL, EMIR
Trusted lieutenant of the Khalifa.

He wiped out the Imperial German garrison at Arora Junction, thus precipitating the withdrawal of all German nationals from Deutsches Sudan. He also commanded a mixed force of Baggara and Hadendowa Infantry during the destruction of 'The Wickes Expedition' at the Battle of Dahmot. When the Khalifa was defeated, Baggar-Tel disappeared. It is rumoured that he is now living somewhere in East Africa.

BLACK MOUNTAINS
The range of mountains that forms the western boundary of Dammallia.

It has three spurs which project eastward. The Northern Spur forms part of the border between Dammallia and Mankanika, the Central Spur divides Lake Albert and Lake Regina, and the Southern Spur forms part of the southern border of Dammallia.

BOOTHBY, COLONEL ALGERNON
Commander of the landing force that captured Koktat during the Mirkat Campaign.

He later commanded the port's garrison during that campaign.

BRITISH AFRO-ASIAN COLONIAL COMPANY
The main exploration and colonial exploitation company in the Empire.

Founded by the then Honourable Archibald Creep as means by which he could fund his expeditions to Africa and Asia. Sir Archibald Creep is the current Chairman and majority shareholder of the Company, and its other shareholders include Sir Cedric Knowgoode, the Earl of Blackheath, and Mr. George Sidebotham.

BRITISH DAMMALLIAN POLICE
The armed colonial police force in Dammallia.

Paid for by the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company, its members are locally recruited Europeans. It is commanded by Commissioner Evelyn Hall, and in times of war or tribal unrest it acts in support of military operations carried out within the borders of the Colony.

BULIBOI
A Watawi kraal.

CAHOT, MAHATMA
Indian trader.

Came to Dammallia in the hope that he could make money supplying goods to the local natives, but has found himself in competition with the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company and Costas Pakitodolos. Frequently complains to the Governor, the Colonial Office, and the Queen about the Company's unfair trading practices, but seems to make a reasonable living despite his problems. He is the arch-rival of Costas Pakitodolos, and is suspected of supplying guns and liquor to the Watawi in exchange for ivory.

CONSORT
A British-built town in Olbeleland.

Named in honour of the Queen's late husband, Prince Albert, the Prince Consort.

COTONON
The largest Olbele settlement and the capital of Olbeleland.

CRAWLEY, LIEUTENANT THE HONOURABLE RONALD
Killed whilst serving as Quartermaster on Colonel Wickes's Staff during the disastrous 'Wickes Expedition'.

Educated at Eton. He joined the Norfolk Fusilier Regiment after leaving school, and following five-years’ service with his regiment he was seconded to serve on the Staff of the Egyptian Army. It has been suggested that Lieutenant Crawley's insistence that the expedition's reserve of rifle ammunition be placed with the supply column, rather than dispersed to the individual Infantry Companies, was a major contributing factor in the destruction of the expedition.

CREEP, SIR ARCHIBALD, Bt.
Explorer, hunter, and millionaire.

First European to set foot on Dammallia. He is now the Chairman and principal shareholder of the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company. He resides in London during the rainy season and on his estate in up-country Dammallia for the rest of the year.

CREEP CAP
Specialist tropical headgear developed for Sir Archibald Creep by the famous London hat-makers Greaves and St. John.

The Creep Cap is a peaked, round cap, with a neck curtain and ventilation holes.

CREEP, LADY VICTORIA
Wife of Sir Archibald Creep.

Lady Victoria is the youngest daughter of the Earl of Blackheath, and is reputed to be the best female shot in the Empire.

DAHMOT
A small town in the Sudan.

It gives its name to the battle where 'The Wickes Expedition' was destroyed.

DAMMALLIA
British Colony.

Named by Sir Archibald Creep, the first European explorer to set foot there. It is reputed that the name resulted from Sir Archibald's Portuguese cartographer and man-servant mis-hearing his master's comments about the county; ‘There's damn all 'ere!’.

The Colony is administered for the Crown by the Colonial Office in London, and there is a Colonial Governor resident in the capital, Port Albert, but the main power lies with the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company which owns the rights to almost everything.

DAMMALLIAN LIGHT RAILWAY
The main railway system in Dammallia.

The Dammallian Light Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company, and operates between Port Albert, Sir Archibald Creep's estate near Consort, and some of the smaller up-country towns.

DAMMALLIAN NATIVE POLICE
The armed native police force in Dammallian.

Paid for by the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company, its members are recruited mainly from the Olbele and Watawi tribes. It is commanded by Commissioner Evelyn Hall, and in times of war or tribal unrest it acts in support of military operations carried out within the borders of the Colony.

DAMMALLIAN RECORD, THE
One of the two Dammallian weekly newspapers.

THE DAMMALLIAN RECORD is an independent newspaper, and is owned and edited by Mr. Homer Derrange.

DAMMALLIAN TIMES, THE
One of the two Dammallian weekly newspapers.

THE DAMMALLIAN TIMES is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company and is edited by Mr. Arnold Hack.

DA SILVA, ENRIQUE
Portuguese cartographer, who also acts manservant, butler, bodyguard, and private secretary to Sir Archibald Creep.

Born in one of the Portuguese African colonies, he was recruited by Sir Archibald to accompany him on his explorations because of his skills as a cartographer, knowledge of African languages, his dexterity will all types of weapon, and his ability to supply clean linen in the most trying circumstances. He remained in Sir Archibald's service after the discovery of Dammallia, and has now become his confidante and trusted henchman.

DEEDES, MISS CHARITY
Spinster sister of the Reverend Noel Deedes.

She works for SPOG (The Society for the Propagation Of the Gospels) and is a self-appointed guardian of Dammallian morals.

DEEDES, REVEREND NOEL
Local representative of SPOG (The Society for the Propagation Of the Gospels).

A self-appointed guardian of Dammallian morals.

DERRANGE, MR. HOMER
Proprietor and Editor of THE DAMMALLIAN RECORD, and a long-time friend of Edward (Ned) Ricci.

A former New York journalist, he came to Dammallia to set up his own newspaper after an argument with the editor of the newspaper for whom he then worked. It is rumoured that the argument arose because of Mr. Derrange's desire to expose corruption amongst certain high-ranking officials in the New York City administration and his editor's reluctance to upset such powerful people.

DEUTSCHES SUDAN
Former Imperial German Colony.

The colony was founded in 1885, and was situated on the Red Sea coast where the borders of Mahdist Sudan and Abyssinia were unclear. The main settlement – Neu Stettin – was a small coastal port whose main function was to act as a coaling station for the Imperial German Navy. The colony was abandoned after the massacre of the garrison at Arora Junction.

DIAMOND, GENERAL SIR GARNET, V.C.
Commander of the British garrison in Dammallia.

Cousin of Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond and a member of the Wolseley 'ring'. Won his Victoria Cross saving Prince Leopold of Bad Limburg – a German nephew of the Queen – from certain death at the hands of Watawi tribesmen during the Watawi War.

DIMONEY, RAS
Loyal lieutenant of Osman Dogma.

He is reputed to be an Ethiopian prince who converted to Islam after meeting Osman Dogma during the latter's overland trek from the Sudan to Dammallia.

DLR
See: Dammallian Light Railway.

DNP
See: Dammallian Native Police.

DOGMA, OSMAN
Fanatical Islamic fundamentalist leader.

Originally from Suakin. He commanded the Mahdist forces during the destruction of 'The Wickes Expedition' at the Battle of Dahmot, after which he withdrew to Mirkat. His army was destroyed during the Mirkat Campaign, and as a result he fell out of favour with the Khalifa. He then moved to Raffia Island where he set up a self-styled ‘religious community’. The latter is, in fact, a group of pirates and slave-traders who use the island as a base from which they can prey on local tribes and traders.

FINKA, MPOKO
Nysenezi mystic.

He was the spiritual leader of the Nysenezi during the Argi-Bargi Rebellion.

FIRDARKI
One of the tribes living in Dammallia.

They are the original native inhabitants of Dammallia.

FIRDARKILAND
The part of Dammallia settled by the Firdarki.

It is bordered in the north by the Albert River, in the south by the Tifooti River, in the east by the sea, and in the west by the Central Spur of the Black Mountains.

FREDERICK, MAJOR CYRIL
Sir Garnet Diamond's Chief of Staff during the Watawi War.

FÜRST, HERR GOTTHOLD
The editor of DIE MANKANIKEN BEOBACHTER (THE MANKANIKAN OBSERVER).

GARDENER, GENERAL HORACE
Commander of the Mirkat Field Force during the Mirkat Campaign.

GOURD, MIRALAI (COLONEL) AHMED
Commander of the Sultan of Marzibar's Army.

He is a half-Turkish, half-Arab, ex-Major (Bimbashi) in the Turkish Army who was born in Cairo. He is reputed to be the half-brother of Omar Gourd.

GOURD, OMAR
Loyal lieutenant of Osman Dogma.

He is a half-Albanian, half-Arab, ex-soldier (he served in the old Egyptian Army as a Captain in the Infantry) who was born in a backstreet "hotel" (or brothel) in Cairo. He commanded a group of Jiadia Riflemen and a battery of muzzle-loading Artillery during the destruction of 'The Wickes Expedition' at the Battle of Dahmot. During the Mirkat Campaign he was in command of the Mahdist garrison of Koktat, and after the port's capture by the Anglo-Egyptians, he commanded the Mahdist besiegers. He fled the Sudan with Osman Dogma when the latter fell from favour with the Khalifa.

GOW, MAJOR THEODOR VON
Commander of 1. Abteilung, Kaiserlich Schutztruppe.

GRENVILLE, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER FREDERICK
Captain of HMS Insolent.

HACK, MR. ARNOLD
Editor of THE DAMMALLIAN TIMES.

A former Fleet Street journalist, it was his report in THE LONDON WEEKLY ENQUIRER about Osman Dogma's raids on villages near Tewfpik that led to the disastrous 'Wickes Expedition'. He was recruited by Sir Archibald Creep to run his newly founded weekly colonial newspaper after they met in London during a newspaper investigation by THE DAILY REPORTER into the affairs of the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company.

HALL, COMMISSIONER EVELYN
Commander of the British Dammallian Police (BDP).

A former Inspector in the City of London Police, he was recruited by Sir Archibald Creep to run this newly formed colonial police force after they met during an incident at a Mansion House Dinner in London. Inspector Hall saved Sir Archibald from an attack by crazed, anti-colonial protester who was trying to hit him with a placard that proclaimed, ‘Leave Africa Dark!’.

’HANDS OFF’, THE
A derogatory nickname for Hansa Ost Afrika.

The obvious derivation of the nickname is the mispronunciation of the words Hansa Ost, but it also refers to the Company's attitude to any potential threats to its monopoly on trade with Mankanika.

HANSA OST AFRIKA
The Imperial German colonial exploitation and trading company which operates in Mankanika.

Its grip on trade with Mankanika is complete, and it strongly resists any attempts to interfere with this lucrative monopoly.

HAWKINS, COLONEL WYNDHAM
Colonel of the Port Albert Rifles (PAR).

HEDD, MR. RICHARD
Formerly the colony's Tax Collector.

He lost his job as a result of his inept handling of the collection of the Native Cattle Tax, thus being the direct cause of the Watawi War.

HEREME
A Mottenbele village on the banks of Lake Bismarck.

HOA
See: Hansa Ost Afrika.

HOOKES, MR. WILLIAM
Local Manager of the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company.

The son of a Warrant Officer in the Royal Artillery, he was born in Woolwich, Kent. He served in the Royal Artillery as a bombardier before transferring to the Dammallia Frontier Force during the Watawi War, where he rose to the rank of temporary, unpaid Captain in the Port Albert Artillery. He chose to remain in Dammallia after the war, and was recruited into the service of the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company by Sir Archibald Creep after a mammoth drinking session in "Ned's Cafe".

HOTTENDRI DESERT
The southern boundary of Dammallia.

IMINDEKAZI
Chief of the Mottenbele.

IMSHI
A village in the Sudan.

KAKHANDI, CHIEF
First Chief of the Watawi.

His death, and the succession of his only son Mobhandi, was one of the underlying causes of the Watawi War.

KANDIBAR
A Marzibarian village.

KANIKA
A Mottenbele village.

KARCAS
A Firdarki coastal village.

KISAME
A Nysenezi village on the banks of Lake Bismarck.

KLUTZ, DOCTOR KONRAD
Deputy Governor of the Imperial German Colony of Mankanika.

He was formerly the Governor of Deutsches Sudan, and although he managed to avoid being blamed for the defeat which led to the withdrawal of all German nationals from that colony, he has not been promoted since then.

KNIESS, DOCTOR HANS
Governor of the Imperial German Colony of Mankanika.

The Kaiser's representative in Mankanika as well as a minor shareholder in Hansa Ost Africa.

KNIESS, FRAU KLARA
Wife of Doctor Hans Kneiss and a cousin of General Willi von Tippel.

KNOWGOODE, SIR CEDRIC
Governor of the British Colony of Dammallia.

The Queens' representative in Dammallia as well as a major shareholder in the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company.

KNOWGOODE, LADY ALEXANDRA
Wife of Sir Cedric Knowgoode.

Lady Alexandra is the only daughter of Mr. George Sidebotham, a millionaire Yorkshire industrialist and shareholder in the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company.

KOKTAT
A small port on the Red Sea coast of the Sudan.

Its capture by an Anglo-Egyptian landing force marked the beginning of the Mirkat Campaign.

KOMINDA
Chief of the Nysenezi.

LAKE ALBERT
The largest lake in Dammallia and the main source of the Albert River.

Discovered and named by Sir Archibald Creep. Named after the Queen's late husband, Prince Albert.

LAKE BISMARCK
A large lake in Mankanika and the main source of the Mankanika River.

Named in honour of the German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.

LAKE REGINA
The second largest lake in Dammallia and the main source of the Tifooti River.

Discovered and named by Sir Archibald Creep. Named in honour of the Queen.

LOBENBOULE, CHIEF
Chief of the Olbele.

MALINGARA
The largest Mottenbele settlement and the capital of Mottenbeleland.

MANBASHI
The largest Watawi kraal and the capital of Watawiland.

MANKANIKA
German Colony.

Named by Doctor Franz Mattengloss, the first European explorer to set foot there. The Colony is administered for the Imperial German Government by the Colonial Ministry in Berlin, and there is a Colonial Governor in the Capital, Port Wilhelm.

MANKANIKA RIVER
The most important river in Mankanika.

MANKANIKEN BEOBACHTER, DIE
The Mankanikan weekly newspaper.

DIE MANKANIKEN BEOBACHTER (THE MANKANIKAN OBSERVER) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hansa Ost Afrika and is edited by Herr Gotthold Fürst.

MARZIBAR
Island locate fifteen miles offshore from the northern part of Dammallia.

It is ruled by the Sultan of Marzibar, who owes titular allegiance to the Sublime Porte, but who rules Marzibar as a despot. Marzibar is an island that is eight miles long by two miles wide on which are situated several small villages and a town, Marzibar City. The latter was called the ‘Venice of Africa’ by Arab explorers and traders during the 17th Century; it has also been described as ‘the worst, pestilential hell-hole on the coast of Africa’ by Sir Archibald Creep.

MARZIBAR CITY
The capital of Marzibar.

MARZIBAR, SULTAN ABDULAFATA OF
Despotic ruler of Marzibar.

MATTENGLOSS, DOCTOR FRANZ
Explorer and painter.

First European to set foot on Mankanika. He died whilst exploring the upper reaches of the River Wavi during his second visit to Mankanika.

MEMBA
A Mottenbele village on Memba Island.

MEMBA ISLAND
Island located of the coast of Mankanika.

MIKINMINI
A Nysenezi coastal village.

MIRKAT
A small town in the Sudan.

It gives its name to both the battle and the campaign that saw the destruction of Osman Dogma's army.

MOBHANDI, CHIEF
The deposed Chief of the Watawi.

He is the only son of Kakhandi, the first Chief of the Watawi, whom he succeeded when the latter died. He now lives in self-imposed exile on Marzibar after leading the Watawi to their defeat in the Watawi War.

MOROLESO
A Nysenezi village.

MOTTENBELE
One of the tribes living in Mankanika.

They are related to the Olbele and are descended from Bhantu tribesmen who were forced northward by the expanding Zulu Empire. The tribe is renowned for being peace-loving and law-abiding.

MOTTENBELELAND
The part of Mankanika settled by the Mottenbele.

It is bordered in the north by the Mankanika River, in the south by the Northern Spur of the Black Mountains and Mount Fillijamjaro, in the east by the sea, and in the west by Lake Bismarck and the River Wavi.

MOUNT BLOEMINTALL
The second highest mountain in Mankanika.

MOUNT FILLIJAMJARO
The highest mountain in Dammallia.

MOUNT MANKANIKA
The highest mountain in Mankanika.

NEU STETTIN
Former capital of the Imperial German Colony of Deutsches Sudan.

NEW NOSHI
A British-built town in Olbeleland.

It is the main centre of mining in Dammallian.

NOSHI
An Olbele Village.

NYSENEZI
One of the tribes living in Mankanika.

They revolted against Imperial German rule during the Argi-Bargi Rebellion, and suffered punitive retribution as a result.

NYSENEZILAND
The part of Mankanika settled by the Nysenezi.

It is bordered in the north by the Northern Usabrela Mountains and Mount Bloemintall, in the south by the Mankanika River, in the east by the sea, and in the west by Lake Bismarck.

OLBELE
One of the tribes living in Dammallia.

They are descended from Bhantu tribesmen who were forced northward by the expanding Zulu Empire. The tribe is renowned for being peace-loving and law-abiding.

OLBELELAND
The part of Dammallia settled by the Olbele.

It is bordered in the north by the Northern Spur of the Black Mountains and Mount Fillijamjaro, in the south by the Albert River, in the east by the sea, and in the west by Lake Albert.

PAKITODOLOS, COSTAS
Egyptian-born Greek trader.

Came to Dammallia from Egypt in the hope that he could make money supplying goods to the local natives, but has found himself in competition with the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company and Mahatma Cahot. He has made frequent complaints to the Governor, the Colonial Office, and the Queen about the Company's unfair trading practices, but seems to be making a reasonable living despite his problems. He is the arch-rival of Mahatma Cahot, and is suspected of supplying guns and ammunition to the Marzibarians in exchange for ivory.

PORT ALBERT
Administrative capital of the British Colony of Dammallia.

Named after the Queen's late husband, Prince Albert.

PORT CONSORT
A British-built town on the banks of Lake Albert.

Named in honour of the Queen's late husband, Prince Albert, the Prince Consort.

PORT REGINA
A British-built town on the banks of Lake Regina.

Named in honour of the Queen.

PORT WILHELM
Administrative capital of the Imperial German Colony of Mankanika.

Named after Kaiser Wilhelm I.

PRICE, MAJOR TIMOTHY MCCOY
Commander of the Dammallian African Rifles (DAR).

RAFFIA ISLAND
Island located at the mouth of the Tifooti River.

Raffia Island is an inhospitable place. It is flat, and the southern end is swampy and prone to flooding at high tide. The vegetation is mainly a stringy grass-like plant, which looks like raffia when it is fully grown.

RICCI, EDWARD (NED)
Owner of the best (and only) hotel in Port Albert – ‘Ned's Café’.

He is an Italian American, ex-mercenary, who served in the Dammallian Frontier Force during the Watawi War as a Major in the Dammallian Light Horse. After the war he used his gratuity to buy the derelict Hotel Albert, which he renovated and re-named ‘Ned's Café’.

RINGA
A Mottenbele village.

RITHANDI
Eldest son of Mobhandi, the deposed Chief of the Watawi.

He now lives with his father in self-imposed exile on Marzibar after the defeat of the Watawi in the Watawi War.

RIVER WAVI
The second most important river in Mankanika and one of the main sources of Lake Bismarck.

RUMBARBAR
A Marzibarian village.

RUTLAND, LIEUTENANT COLONEL PETER
Commander of 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Light Infantry during the Mirkat Campaign.

SCINNE, REVEREND SEYMOUR
Previous SPOG (The Society for the Propagation Of the Gospels) representative in Dammallia.

Killed by Watawi warriors during the Watawi War. Replaced by the Reverend Noel Deedes.

SCINNE, MISS CYNTHIA
Spinster sister of the Reverend Seymour Scinne.

After the death of her brother during the Watawi War, she gave up working for SPOG (The Society for the Propagation Of the Gospels) and became governess to the children of Sir Cedric and Lady Knowgoode.

SEKUNDHANDI
Eldest son of Chief Uphandi.

SIMBABAR
A Marzibarian village.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPELS, THE
One of the principal missionary societies in the Empire.

Founded by the Reverend Arthur Minute, an East End clergyman. The Society originally concentrated on spreading the word of God amongst the poor, the unemployed, and the down-and-outs of London. As the Society grew it opened missions in other major cities, and then began to send missionaries to the newly explored areas of Africa and Asia. These missionaries included the Reverend Noel Deedes, who is now the Society's chief representative in Dammallia.

SPOG
See: The Society for the Propagation Of the Gospels.

SPRINGE, HERR AXEL
Local Manager of Hansa Ost Afrika.

STOWE, SIR EDWARD, Bt.
Founder and owner of Stowe Steamship Line.

STOWE STEAMSHIP LINE
The principal independent coastal and riverine steamship line serving East Africa and the Indian Ocean.

It operates a small fleet of passenger and cargo ships.

SSL
See: Stowe Steamship Line.

STÜMPER, OBERST RITTER VON
Second-in-command of the Imperial German garrison in Mankanika.

He was formerly the military adviser to the Governor of Deutsches Sudan, and was blamed for the defeat of the Imperial German garrison at Arora Junction which led to the withdrawal of all German nationals from Deutsches Sudan. He has since redeemed his reputation by his violent suppression of the Argi-Bargi Rebellion, and has been promoted to the rank of Oberst.

TEWFIK, YARBAY (CAPTAIN) IZZET
Commander of the Sultan of Marzibar's navy and captain of SOMS Abduliye.

He is an ex-Commander (Oyuzbashi) in the Turkish Navy, and he was born in Izmir.

TEWFPIK
A small port on the Red Sea coast of the Sudan.

TIFOOTI RIVER
The second most important river of Dammallia.

Discovered and named by Sir Archibald Creep. It is reputed that the name resulted from Sir Archibald's Portuguese cartographer and man-servant mis-hearing his master's comments about the colour of the river water; ‘Gad! This looks like Typhoo Tea!’.

TIPPEL, GENERAL WILLI VON
Commander of the Imperial German garrison in Mankanika.

Won an Iron Cross during the Franco-Prussian War (whilst he was still only a Fahnrich) for his part in the charge of the Prussian Hussars at the Battle of Vionville.

TIPTREE, LIEUTENANT MARMADUKE
Killed whilst serving as a member of Colonel Wickes's Staff during the disastrous 'Wickes Expedition'.

TOKAR
A small fishing village on the Red Sea coast of the Sudan.

UPHANDI, CHIEF
Chief of the Watawi.

He is the youngest son of Chief Mobhandi, whom he deposed after the defeat of the Watawi in the Watawi War.

USABRELA MOUNTAINS
The range of mountains that forms the western boundary (and part of the northern boundary) of Mankanika.

It is the northern continuation of the Black Mountains, and it is divided into two ranges; the Western Usabrela Mountains and the Northern Usabrela Mountains. Reputed to be one of the wettest places in the world with an average of 2½ inches (63.5 mm) of rainfall per day during the rainy season.

WAHINDI, CHIEF
Chief of the Firdarki.

WATAWI
One of the tribes living in Dammallia.

They are descended from a Zulu impi sent north on a reconnaissance by Chaka Zulu, that decided to settle in the area when news of Chaka's death reached them. The tribe revolted against British rule when the Colonial Governor – on the advice of the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company – introduced a Native Cattle Tax. After some initial successes, the Watawi were decisively defeated at the Battle of Manbashi. The subsequent overthrow of Chief Mobhandi by his son Uphandi, who signed a peace treaty with the British, brought an end to the Watawi War.

WATAWILAND
The part of Dammallia settled by the Watawi.

It is bordered in the north by the Tifooti River, in the south by the Southern Spur of the Black Mountains and the Hottendri Desert, in the east by the sea, and in the west by Lake Regina.

WICKES, COLONEL CUTHBERT
Colonel (Miralai) in the Egyptian Army.

Killed whilst commanding the disastrous 'Wickes Expedition'. Cuthbert Wickes joined the Egyptian Army because he felt that his humble origins – he was the only son of a prosperous Norwood builder – had hampered his progress in the British Army. He was regarded as a brave, genial, middle-aged but somewhat unimaginative officer who had a proven ability in the handling of poor-quality native troops. He gained this reputation during the earlier campaigns in the Sudan, when he raised and led a group of irregular Arab riflemen who harassed Mahdist operations. As a result, he was promoted from the rank of Captain (Yuzbashi) to Colonel (Miralai) in the Egyptian Army. Wickes was the obvious choice to lead the punitive expedition against Osman Dogma's Mahdist forces even though his otherwise sound judgement had been clouded on several occasions because of his resentment of younger officers from more privileged backgrounds.

WILHELM, MAJOR CHRISTOPH (WILLI)
Retired officer of the Imperial German Army.

He and Prince Leopold of Bad Limburg served together in the 4. Garde Grenadier Regiment. Since his retirement he has concentrated on developing his farm in Mottenbeleland, although he still acts as an unofficial military adviser to the Governor of the Imperial German Colony of Mankanika, Doctor Konrad Klutz.

WINCHESTER, CAPTAIN CHARLES
Commodore of the British Afro-Asian Colonial Company's fleet of merchant ships.

WHYDA
A Firdarki village.

XOSHI
A Watawi kraal. The name is pronounced ‘Coshi’.

ZIGAR
A village in the Sudan.

8 comments:

  1. A very thorough and impressive background. It reminds me that I really should sort out my ImagiNations at some point in 2020...

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    1. Steve J.,

      I enjoyed putting this whole project together, and creating the characters allowed me to exercise my imagination (and punning ability) to the full.

      All the best,

      Bob

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  2. Well... What can I say? I was thinking of developing something along the east coast of Africa, lying somewhere between Mogadishu and Dar es Salaam - and here it is! Done already. But since the 'antagonist' is German rather than French (or Belgian, which is where I think 'Jacko' is going with this), we might have to look at the other side of the continent altogether. Maybe.

    I did enjoy reading through this list - some delightful names in that lot. Probably my favourite is the Nysenezi - tribe and land. Wonderful.

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    1. Archduke Piccolo,

      Please feel free to borrow as much as you want. I know of at least two people who have used my background information for the basis of three post-colonial third world countries.

      As you have probably gathered, almost all of the names of people and places are plays on words ... some of which only make sense if they are read out loud.

      All the best,

      Bob

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    2. Bob -
      I do much the same, although I'll also play with real names. 'Maimajikwand' came from inserting 'Majik' into the known battlefield of 'Maiwand'.

      In the case of Madasahatta, the thought occurred to me slightly at variance with My Knowles's back history, that it was the the French who first colonised the Island, the city state founded by the Turks/Arabs scarcely qualifying as a colonising effort.

      The French colony was made over to the Germans as part of the post Franco-Prussian war settlement. As such, it was by far the longest article to be ratified and put into effect, the final handover taking place late 1884 - some 13 years after the war had ended.

      Possibly the reason for this was the British notion that the French half of the island should devolve into British possession, Germany having neither the wherewithal nor the colonial expertise (whatever that meant) to govern Le Havre Nouveau as it was then called.

      It was precisely this lack that delayed the German de facto takeover so long. That they pursued the matter at all was to establish a foothold in a region hitherto denied German presence. It was only later that Graf Aureus von Goldgrueber discovered the fabulous mother lode running through the Bloeminstip Mountain Range.

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    3. Archduke Piccolo,

      I think that your idea that an originally French colony was ceded to the new Imperial German Government after 1870 makes a lot of sense. Likewise the reluctance (and inability) of the Germans to actually take it over until they had a good reason to so does explain why it is still French until the Germans find a reason to pull their finger out ... and the discovery of gold is an excellent reason to spur a government to take action!

      I would like to think that Eric Knowles would be chuffed with your ideas, and I hope that you and Jacko take the concept a bit further ... especially if you can incorporate your new naval wargames into a campaign in the process.

      All the best,

      Bob

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  3. An impressive amount of detail Bob! I am encouraged to sort out more background for my own Imaginary Colonial setting.

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    1. Maudlin Jack Tar,

      Give it try! It can be a fun exercise.

      All the best,

      Bob

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