1 86 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



mortar. In form it was like an immensely strong cattle- 

 pen, but as to what it was, or by whom built, I could get 

 no information, except that it was very old and probably 

 was erected by the Gallas. We camped by a stream at 

 the foot of this plateau, Nasser and Adarar coming in 

 later. Next day our route lay over a great undulating 

 grass-plain with very little cultivation. With the glasses 

 I spotted two reedbuck, and after a long crawl bagged 

 them both. My shots brought a crowd of Gallas 

 together, who seemed very much interested in me and 

 my rifle. Meanwhile, my mule had bolted, and led us a 

 long chase before it was recaptured. I told Ali to cut 

 the throat of one of the reedbuck, to make it lawful food 

 for the Somalis, and Nasser, that of the other, thinking 

 that this would make its meat acceptable to the Abys- 

 sinians. I soon heard that many of the men would not 

 touch it, as they said Nasser was not a real Christian, 

 because he ate meat which Ali had hallaled. This 

 food-question proved a continual source of trouble. If 

 a beast fell dead at once, or if I hallaled it, only two or 

 three of the Gallas would eat of it ; if one of the Gallas 

 cut its throat, none but Gallas would touch it. Only 

 when a Somali hallaled one beast, and another received 

 its coup dc grace from one of some half a dozen Abys- 

 sinians, whose orthodox Christianity was above suspicion, 

 did every one get fresh meat. Now nothing causes so 

 much discontent among one's followers as a long 

 deprivation of meat, or for one half to see the others 

 feasting while they have none, and so I often had to 

 shoot game for meat alone. 



We were approaching by a series of easy slopes the 



