ADAPTABILITY OF THE SOMALI 



bigoted outlook on life, inevitable to a people whose 

 ideals are made up of a fancied superiority, is not 

 incompatible with an acute intelligence, and this 

 they possess without a doubt. No native is more 

 adaptable than the Somali. They may be found 

 as stokers on big liners, as miners in South Africa, 

 as servants, soldiers, interpreters and clerks, and 

 they do their work well ; but as soon as they return 

 to their homes they cast off the conventional dress 

 of civilisation, and become once more true nomads, 

 for in such a life only can they find their full measure 

 of happiness. 



Like the Arabs, they may well be called true 

 Children of the Desert. Essentially lazy in times 

 of peace, their dignity does not allow them to do 

 any manual work, which is therefore left to the 

 women. Their sole preoccupation is to see to the 

 welfare of their stock and to add to their possessions 

 by raiding the cattle of their enemies. When not 

 thus occupied, they will lie for hours outside their 

 village, in the shade of some convenient tree, sleeping, 

 droning songs about their past deeds of prowess, or 

 chatting with their companions. • In character they 

 are proud and quick to resent some fancied wrong 

 or injury ; they are generally cheerful, talkative and 

 true to their code of honesty ; but in the latter respect 

 it must be remembered that what would be binding 

 between two Mohammedans is by no means a trust- 

 worthy contract between a Mohammedan and an 

 infidel. Although in many cases they appear to' be 

 insolent to a stranger, I believe this to be more of a 

 mannerism than a deliberate act. 



If a Somali thinks he is beino- wrong-ed or 

 unfairly treated, he changes from a light-hearted, 



144 



