114 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
but, although there were innumerable fresh tracks, we found 
none of the animals near the camp. I gave Dodson a few 
boys, as he wished to follow the elephants, and provisioned 
him to stay over night; but the Somalis, unfortunately, had 
frightened the animals, and Dodson was obliged to return 
the next evening without his coveted tusks, although he 
had had some sport with antelopes. 
A great surprise was in store for us. The Ogadens 
told me that a European sportsman had just:come from 
Milmil, and was now only two marches to the west of us. 
We were most anxious to meet this sportsman, as we had had 
no news from home for nearly six months. After marching 
eleven miles to the south, to a comfortable spot in the great 
plain of Dagaboor, I wrote a letter inviting the European, 
whoever he might be, to come to our camp and spend the 
Christmas season with us, explaining to him that we were 
naturally very anxious to hear some European news. We 
were in an excellent spot fora Christmas camp. The plain 
of Dagaboor extends some thirty miles south of Mt. Kal- 
dash, and is continuous with a broad strip of level country 
along the Shebeli River which reaches all the way to Bari. 
There had been a little rain on the “ Bunn” Dagaboor,' 
and the many green succulent bushes about afforded ex- 
cellent food for the camels. Besides, there was abundance 
of game about, so we could not do better than remain here 
fora while. The only drawback to our camping-place was 
the fact that the water was a little salty; but this is the 
case all through the country near the Shebeli. 
On December 24, two days after I had sent my letter, 
the messengers returned, followed by a gentleman on 
horseback whom I recognized at once as the well-known 
Russian sportsman, Prince Boris. We were delighted to 
meet each other, and determined at once to spend the 
1 Bunn is the Somali name for plain. 
