382 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on a 



XXXV. — Narrative of a Visit to Somaliland in 1897, with 

 Field-notes on the Birds obtained during the Expedition. 

 By E. Lort Phillips, F.Z.S. 



(Plates VIII.-X.) 



Early in January 1897 I returned to Somaliland accom- 

 panied by my wife, my niece (Miss Gillett), her brother 

 (Mr. F. Gillett), Mr. G. P. V. Aylmer, Mr. I vers Bland, and 

 Mr, Guy Fremantle. I had engaged to assist me with my 

 specimens a young taxidermist, Leonard Harwood, who, with 

 Aylmer's man, George, completed our rather formidable 

 party of Europeans. Our object was to explore the Goolis 

 range to the eastward of Berbera as far as Mount Wagga"^, 

 to add, if possible, to the scientific knowledge of this part 

 of Africa, and to avail ourselves, as well, of any sport 

 obtainable along and beyond the reservation-line that has 

 been drawn in so arbitrary a manner by the '^ powers that be " 

 Sit Aden. At Berbera we were most hospitably received by 

 Mr. Malcolm Jones, who was administering justice during 

 the absence of the Resident, Capt. Merewether. He, with 

 Mrs. Merewether, was on a shooting-trip in the interior. 

 We pitched our tents, as before, on the little maidan or 

 square, which is now adorned with a most practical native 

 hospital, having separate wards for men, women, and 

 children, the result of Capt. Merewether's energetic appeals 

 to travellers and others on behalf of the Somali sick. Our 

 stay at Berbera was short, as, with our former head man, 

 Egga Nalaya, and several of our old camp-servants who 

 " knew the ropes,^' we quickly got our camels, horses, and 

 men together, though it entailed some really heavy work to 

 equip so large a party. However, we had a little play in the 

 form of some delightful rides in the evenings along the shore, 

 returning in the brilliant moonlight, wliich threw an enchant- 

 ment over everything, making even the little glary desert 

 town look charming, with its waving palms and minarets. 

 On January 23rd we made a short march to Dobar, where 



* Most of our Stations will be found marked in tlie map of Northern 

 Somaliland published in the ' Geographical Journal ' for 1898, p. 112. 



