16 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
never permitted to intermarry with the Somalis of better 
blood. 
The Tomals, or blacksmiths, are also regarded as low- 
caste, and believed by many o: the Somalis to be gifted 
with magical powers. They go from village to village, 
being regularly paid by the Somalis for the work they 
do. The Yebirs are like the Tomals, excepting that they 
work in leather. 
As we progressed in our journey south we passed two 
water-holes lying in a “ tug,’ or sandy bed of a stream,’ 
the waters flowing freely for a hundred yards or so on the 
surface, and then disappearing again, leaving a delicious 
fringe of green grass about. There were also a few cocoa- 
nut-trees about the tug, that relieved the oppressive 
monotony of the otherwise dry and desolate country; but 
most of the trees and bushes scattered around looked dead 
and only half flourishing. 
Some half-dozen of the camels I had started with were 
left behind before the second march, as they were too ex- 
hausted to endure the journey; we passed, however, several 
native caravans, from each of which I managed to buy 
three or four camels, the usual price being forty-two 
rupees each; and when we came to Lafarug, I bought 
eleven fresh, fine camels, besides many goats and sheep. 
Here four camels were stolen by Midgans. The boys 
whom I sent to capture” them succeeded late inwthe 
night in finding the camels, and in catching one of the 
thieves. 
The camels made poor time, having to cross great cuts 
and furrows in the stony ground; but the country became 
much more fertile, and to our great joy we began to have 
showers of rain. 
‘ The sandy beds of streams or wadies are called by the Somalis “tugs,” a 
name which I shall in the future use to designate them. 
