110 



MY SOMALI BOOK 



known. It can hardly, therefore, call for surprise 

 that, in a country where for centuries the lion has 

 known the temporary zariba fence as the one obstacle 

 between himself and the native's flocks, he should have 

 so far adapted himself to circumstances as to make 

 use of the strength and leaping powers he undoubtedly 

 possesses. 



In this he only follows the example of the leopard, 

 of whom one does not hear very much as springing 

 into kraals in other parts of Africa ; but in Somaliland 

 he does it on two or three nights of every week of 

 his life. 



Well, His Majesty had to be photographed and 

 disrobed, and then back to camp. There I gave the 

 old man who had brought the khabar in the morning, 

 a new white tobe (length of cotton cloth for a robe). He 

 promptly, Somali-like, asked for a khaili (a coloured 

 one). I thought it might be politic " pour encourager 

 les autres,^^ so gave him one. 



