./ SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA 



If camels be employed, all the personnel should be Somalis, except 

 local guides, engaged in the actual part of the country you are shooting 

 in — if mules are selected, Somalis are useless, except as shikaris and 

 personal servants, and then the fewer taken the better, as they are much 

 more difficult to feed, and feel the cold very much. 



2. For the composition of a camel caravan, the intending traveller 

 should read Major Swayne's Seveniee?t Trips through Somaliland. 



The caravan should consist of a headman, cook, personal servant, two 

 shikaris, skinman, a syce for each riding animal, a donkey-boy to drive 

 donkeys and sheep, and a camel-man to each two baggage -camels ; these 

 men also carry rifles and form the escort, besides performing all camp duties. 



A Somali's daily ration is i lb. of rice, \ lb. of dates, and 2 oz. of 

 ghee, the two former must be carried from the coast. Casks, to carry at 

 least one day's water-supply for everyone, should be taken. Tents are 

 not expected by Somalis, but a blanket a-piece is much appreciated, and 

 prevents a great deal of sickness ; in any case, these should be provided 

 for the personal servants, shikaris, and sentries. 



In a mule cara\'an two men must be allowed for every three baggage- 

 animals. There will be less friction, if the Abyssinians are allowed to 

 select their own headman ; they should each receive a burnous costing 

 2 dollars. 



The caravan is subdivided into groups of six men to a tent, each of 

 which groups elect one of themselves as chief, who is responsible to the 

 headman for his men, beasts, and loads. 



Each man receives a monthly sum for rations, and it is as well to settle 

 how many mules you will allow them to carry their food and kit ; one to 

 each tent is ample, but unless the loads are examined every now and then, 

 this number will be found to be constantly exceeded. 



Two felt-covered water-tanks, holding 5 gallons each, will be found 

 ample to fetch water to camp ; for since mules cannot travel in a water- 

 less country, you must never be very far from it. 



Not less than two riding-beasts for personal use should be taken, and 

 one baggage-animal and attendant should always accompany the sports- 

 man to bring in the trophies and meat. 



It will save much trouble, if two or three spare baggage-animals are 

 taken to relieve sick ones of their loads, or to carry trophies, if these 

 accumulate faster than the stores decrease. 



The following is a list of camp-kit, etc., which, after twelve years spent in 

 travel and shooting in all sorts of climates and with transports of every 

 kind, I should select for myself if going another eight months' sporting 

 expedition in Abyssinia. 



