SCRUB AND CONIFERS 



striking contrast to the white sand and arid appear- 

 ance of the dunes through which we had been 

 climbing. A very noticeable feature on these hills 

 was a large number of conifers {Juniperus procera). 

 This tree, which is common in many parts of Somali- 

 land, Abyssinia and British East Africa, under normal 

 conditions is of a pyramidal shape, but here on the 

 coast of Jubaland it is flat-topped and table-like. As 

 may be seen in our own coasts the effect of wind on 

 the growth of trees and shrubs is to prevent them 

 from growing perpendicularly, and such trees as the 

 oak and hawthorn and even the elm and sycamore 

 may be seen stunted and flat-topped from this 

 cause.^ 



Slowly we made our way down into the plains, 

 and towards sunset we came upon two " worrta " or 

 rain-water pools. Two Somali were filling up their 

 leather water-bottles here, and loading them on their 

 camels, while their little boys were running around 

 playing and laughing. It formed a most picturesque 

 scene in the fading light, when both colours and 

 outline are softened by the afterglow. A little farther 

 on I found my own camels and my tent pitched. 

 The following morning I was awakened long before 

 dawn, as there was a lengthy march to be accom- 

 plished before the next water was reached. The 

 headman woke me punctually at 3 a.m., and as usual, 

 while I had breakfast, down came the tent, the camels 

 were loaded to the accompaniment of loud snarling, 

 and we were soon away. I could not see what the 

 country was like for the first two hours, although 

 the bush looked very dense in the moonlight. It 

 was already oppressively hot, and we were all per- 



^ The Field, 5, vii. 13, " Juniperus Procera." 

 50 



