A SOMALI FAMILY 



Whilst I was taking some theodolite observations 

 here, a typical Somali family passed on their way to 

 a new camp. First came the father, accompanied by 

 a little girl about twelve years old, driving some fifty 

 head of cattle and half a dozen donkeys. The man 

 was fully armed with spear, shield and knife, and 

 carried in addition a small gourd of water, his wooden 

 pillow and a tooth stick. Having allowed the animals 

 to drink they passed on, and were shortly followed by 

 a woman, presumably his wife, leading a large camel. 

 On it were the fibre and grass mats, called " Herios," 

 the curved posts of their hut, several water-bottles 

 made of gourds or wood and hung in wicker baskets, 

 and various other household goods. The woman 

 stopped to have a drink, and was joined by a very old 

 man, probably her father, and two tiny children ; she 

 made the latter drink by dipping her two hands in 

 the water, thus improvising a cup, and when they 

 had all satisfied their thirst, they too passed on, and 

 were soon swallowed up in the thick bush. 



While working near camp in the evening I shot 

 another silver-backed jackal, a female, and so secured 

 a pair from this district. There were also many 

 vulturine guinea-fowls about, of which I shot two. 

 This exceedingly handsome game-bird is very 

 common throughout southern Jubaland, and later on 

 in the interior, where all other food is extremely 

 scarce, it formed the "piece de resistance" of my 

 daily menu. 



My next move was eastwards towards the sand- 

 hills which separate Dibayu Plain from the sea. In 

 the early dawn there was the usual bustle and 

 confusion on striking camp, while the tents came 

 down and the loads were made up, but in this case it 



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