148 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



their bwanas. Also they are exceedingly likely 

 to degenerate unless ruled with a firm hand and 

 a wise head. Very rarely are they dishonest as 

 respects the possessions of their own masters. 

 They understand their work perfectly, and the 

 best of them get the equivalent of from eight to 

 ten dollars a month. Every white individual 

 has one or more of them ; even the tiny children 

 with their ridiculous little sun helmets are fol- 

 lowed everywhere by a tall, solemn, white-robed 

 black. Their powers of divination approach 

 the uncanny. About the time you begin to 

 think of wanting something, and are making 

 a first helpless survey of a boyless landscape, 

 your own servant suddenly, mysteriously, and 

 unobtrusively appears from nowhere. Where 

 he keeps himself, where he feeds himself, where 

 he sleeps you do not know. These beautifully 

 clean, trim, dignified people are always a pleas- 

 ant feature in the varied picture. 



The Somalis are a clan by themselves. A few 

 of them condescend to domestic service, but the 

 most prefer the free life of traders, horse dealers, 

 gunbearers, camel drivers, labour go-betweens, 

 and similar guerrilla occupations. They are 

 handsome, dashing, proud, treacherous, coura- 

 geous, likeable, untrustworthy. They career 



