54 Mr. R. McD. Hawker— Results of a 



now lay to the south-west, and after three marches we camped 

 at Laferugj the first water we had seen since we left Berbera. 

 Near the water I saw a large flock of Abyssinian Guinea- 

 fowl [Numicla ptilorhyncha) feeding on some green grass ; 

 they were fairly tame, and let me get within easy shot. Next 

 day we marched to Mandeira, and camped near the water in 

 a very pretty spot surrounded by rocky hills and commanding 

 a good view of Ganlibah and the Golis mountains. Here 

 we found many birds, and also obtained good specimens of 

 the Lesser Koodoo [Strepsiceros imberbis). It being rather 

 hot at Mandeira, we decided to push on to Hargeisa. Two 

 marches brought us to Jalets. 



Since we left the coast we had been gradually ascending ; 

 and on November 13th we camped at mid-day above Hargeisa, 

 the altitude being nearly 5000 feet. We sent the caravan to 

 Hargeisa, and turned off" the track to hunt. After shooting 

 a cheetah we got into Hargeisa as it was growing dark, and 

 found our camp pitched on a beautiful plain surrounded by 

 large " Jub " thorn-trees. That night I was setting traps for 

 small mammals, some little way from the camp, when I heard 

 the dry rasping call of a leopard close to me. This was 

 answered by a call on the other side of me ; so I thought it 

 about time to leave for the camp. Next day Sheikh Mattar 

 Hersi, the most influential mullah in Somaliland, paid us a 

 visit. This Sheikh governs Hargeisa, which is a permanent 

 village, where a certain amount of sorghum is cultivated. 



There were many birds near Hargeisa, and I found great 

 flocks of Finches and Doves feeding on the sorghum stubbles, 

 besides which Francolins and Guinea-fowl were very numerous 

 about the river-bed. We meant to stop here for several days, 

 but news was brought in of a lion about one march ofl", so 

 we left on the 15th November. 



On the 18th we marched to Godgat, and collected there 

 for two days. This is in a basin-like depression abont six 

 miles across, surrounded by rugged hills, which are a 

 favourite resort for the Greater Koodoo. A Somali rode over 

 from Ubali, which was about fifteen miles off, to tell us a 

 lion had killed a pony that morning, I rode back with him 



