Khauzuarabstian: A Primer and Brief History of the Geographic Wonder (Part One)

NOTE: Tied into this post. Originally composed circa 1997.

Khauzuarabstian circa 1900

Khauzuarabstian is a fictional continent located in the upper northwest portion of the Indian Ocean near the eastern coast of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian sub-continent. There are four large deep-water bays. A large desert ringed by imposing mountains ranges dominates the upper third of the continent. In the desert there are five large oases' that are interconnected by roads. There are passes thru the mountains that allow travel thru the mountain ranges at different points on the continent. There are five major rivers that start in the mountain ranges that anchor the center of the continent. A dormant volcano sits in the middle of these ranges. South of the volcano sits a large jungle which borders the ruins of a large city that was populated by an unknown civilization. Archeologists that have investigated the ruins have yet to determine what the origins of the lost civilization were, although a lot of theories have been tossed around, with the primary theory connecting the indigenous people of the continent to the ruins. A sixth river, starting in a very small mountain range, is in the lower southeastern portion of the continent. All the rivers are navigable for the most part. The balance of the continent is primarily grasslands, veldts, rolling hills and forests. There is snow in the higher elevations of the mountain ranges.

Butchard Island, named for that famed British explorer/scientist Sir Arthur Butchard, is a large island off the southeastern coast of the continent. At its closest point to Khauzuarabstian it sets about a full day or so voyage away by fast steamer. The island is primarily jungle with a small mountain range in its center.

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The British have settled portions of Khazuarabstian for about 170 years. The British, centered out of Victoriana on the Britannia Bay, have settled some areas and have explored large sections of the continent. The Germans have explored the northeastern portion of the continent. The southeastern portion of the continent has recently seen a large influx of Boers. The Great Desert and the north central area of the continent have seen interest by the French.

There are native peoples as well. There is a large population of  KhaZulu, primarily in the southern and western portion of Khazuarabstian. A substantial population of KhaArabs is primarily located in the north central part of the continent, centered in the five oases' of the Great Desert. Clans of KhaOokabaluka inhabit the jungles on the continent and island. The northeastern and east central areas of the continent have a large population of KhaIndistani.

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Relations between the Europeans, Boers, and the Kha-peoples are mostly polite, diplomatic, and generally beneficial for all. However, there are rumblings of clandestine work done by the German with Italian allies to undermine British support within the British and French spheres of influence. The KhaZulu do have uprisings from time to time, which require British intervention to quell lawlessness and protect the Interests and Subjects of the Crown. The KhaIndistani have had trouble with bandits, warlords, and a spin-off of the outlawed Indian Thuggee cult. The KhaArabians also have problems with bandits and with resurgent groups of extreme Mohammadian groups. The KhaOokabaluka have been more mysterious and are not that well known. Lurid stories of cannibalism, human sacrifice, and other pagan rituals filled scholarly monographs and newspaper columns until Sir Arthur Butchard explored the jungle regions of Khazuarabstian and its adjacent island. He proved that the KhaOokabaluka, though warlike and ardent defenders of their clans and culture, were not the naked screaming savages as described in questionably researched popular anthropological texts of the day.

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The Boers declared their Republic in southeastern Khazuarabstian about 20 years ago. The capital of the Republic, Freizenberg, is located on the shores of Freimarkett Lake. The lake is ringed by the Drakan mountain range {named after the leader of the first group of families that settled in the area} that provided a hardy defensible location for the first Boer families that settled in the region about 100 years ago. The lake drains into the Arrbeiten River, which in turn empties into the Indian Ocean. Both the lake and river are navigable by steamer, which allows the Boers to trade with whomever they wish, primarily the Dutch and Portuguese. There is also a port town at the mouth of the Arrbeiten River called Freiport. This has allowed other enterprising Boer and Boer-friendly businessmen access to the exploding trade that the Boers are enjoying.

Proud, fierce, and independent, the Boers have fought the KhaZulu and the KhaOokabaluka. They do not have a standing army, but rather form expedient militia companies called "Kommandoes." The fighting ability of the Boers is world renown. The Empire and the Germans both are courting the Boers. Neither side really wants the Boers involved in their respective quests for power on the continent. The Boers, known for their quick tempers and responses to any perceived threat, have stated that they wish most to be left alone.