10 MY SOMALI BOOK 



to learn new things, and wonderfully bright and in- 

 telligent. He is untiring on the march, often a reckless 

 hunter, and will stand b}^ his master splendidly." 

 And again, " I have made many jmigle trips in India 

 and elsewhere, yet in no country have I had such 

 obedient and cheerful followers and such pleasant 

 native companions, despite their faults, as in Somali- 

 land." 



This estimate is every bit as true as the other. The 



Somali of the interior is not, as a rule, dishonest, 



though he can be an exasperating liar on occasion. 



And he is usualty decent in his dress. Naturally 



indolent, he prefers to see the women 



do the work, but he has plenty of energy 



when he chooses to give it exercise, and 



in this respect is seen at his best on a 



shooting trip. And there is no doubt 



of his courage. 



A Mahomedan of the Shafai Sect, 

 the Somali is sometimes very particular 

 about his religious observances, but the Arab despises 

 him as not a true Mahomedan at all. 



There is no occasion to detail the principal tribes, 

 which are split up into innumerable sub-divisions. But 

 mention must be made of the Midgdns, an outcast 

 tribe of professional hunters. They hunt with bow 

 and poisoned arrow, sometimes with dogs, and are 

 wonderful trackers. 



As to the provision which the country makes for 

 the hunter : the principal game to be met with in 

 Northern Somaliland comprises Elephant, Black 

 Rhinoceros, Lion, Leopard, Chita (hunting-leopard). 



