ChA Raia ik 
ARRIVAL AT HarGESA — CRUELTY TO PONIES — ACROSS THE DESERT TO 
Mitmit — THE OGADEN SOMALIS — LION-SHOOTING — A CurRIous HalIr- 
LEss MoLe — Ar SESSABANE — RaIDS OF THE ABYSSINIANS — TREES 
AND FRuIt — BEAUTIFUL BIRDS — CRUEL TREATMENT OF OLD WOMEN 
— DRILLING THE BovyS — WE LEAVE LAFKEI — AN ANNOYING PLANT — 
MEETING WITH Capt. C. J. PERCIVAL — UNKNOWN COUNTRY AHEAD. 
N the 17th of July we arrived at Hargesa, —a large, 
important settlement of Somalis, governed by a 
very intelligent and friendly old chief. The caravans 
going to and fro from Berbera to this point are provided 
with an armed escort by the English Government. 
Beyond Hargesa is a tract of country called the “ Haud,” 
extending south to Milmil one hundred miles, in which 
there is not adrop of water to be found, except in the rainy 
season. During the spring and fall rains this country 
affords fine grazing, and the Somalis from the north and 
south send their flocks in thousands to the Haud for pas- 
turage. It is then a scene of many battles between the 
Habr-Awal and other tribes from the north, and the Oga- 
den Somalis on the south. But during the dry season 
it is onlya resort of lions, and great herds of antelopes and 
other wild beasts. 
On our arrival at Hargesa the old chief treated us toa 
tamasho, or equestrian exhibition. About a dozen So- 
malis, mounted on gayly caparisoned ponies, dashed up and 
down before us, throwing their spears, and giving many 
imitations of their accustomed mode of fighting. It wasa 
