20 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
that these are only optical illusions, quite characteristic of 
flat countries in Africa. It was very pleasant travelling 
across the plateau, as the climate was dry and cool, the 
average temperature for twenty-four hours being 73° 
Fahr. On the 27th of July we found ourselves at 
Gagaap, on the Tug Milmil. We were now in the 
Ogaden country, the land of fat camels and good-looking 
men and women, the people having lighter complexions 
and more refined features than in other parts of Somaliland. 
The camels were formerly raised in large droves, but with- 
in the last three or four years their numbers have been 
greatly diminished by raiding parties of Abyssinians. 
Most of the men understand Arabic; and you scarcely 
ever see a boy without his little flat board, on which are 
written verses from the Koran. 
The natives flocked to us from the many villages about 
two miles distant, and treated us to another tamasho. 
Trading went on briskly; and I managed to secure, in the 
few days we were at Milmil, many fresh camels, so that the 
caravan included over a hundred good strong animals. 
Not far from here I was fortunate in shooting the best 
specimen of male lion that I have seen in Somaliland. 
The natives sent a delegation to beg me to come to one of 
their villages to shoot a tion which they said had eaten 
many of their people, and which was accustomed to jump 
into their zareba every few nights. I hastened to the place 
immediately, and had my boys build a small zareba, or 
bushy enclosure, just big enough for myself and another 
man; and in this pen I made myself as comfortable as pos- 
sible, with one of my boys beside me to watch. Just 
before sundown a few hyenas came out and seemed as if 
they wanted to attack a donkey I had tethered in front 
asa bait. I had to keep throwing stones every now and 
then to frighten away these pests; but just as it got dark a 
