THE "TOBE ' 



ments by hanging up another mat, the left-hand side 

 forming the sleeping apartment, while the right, which 

 contains the fire, is used as the living room. Such, 

 at any rate, was my impression of the huts, which I 

 had the opportunity of inspecting. The Somali are 

 somewhat chary of allowing strangers to enter their 

 gurgi, and I therefore offer these observations with 

 the utmost diffidence, knowing how easy it is to carry 

 away an erroneous idea of the habits and doings of 

 natives with whom one has had but a brief acquaintance. 



The Somali, when at home in his village, wears 

 the white "tobe," which completely covers his person. 

 This is merely a piece of calico (Bufta) of double 

 width, and about 8 yards in length. In Jubaland 

 a "piece" of cloth is 40 yards, which is cut into 5 

 full "lengths," or 8 "half-lengths" ; this is the recog- 

 nised standard of exchange, and is the basis of all 

 trading. There are three qualities of cloth, Bufta, 

 Murduf and Americani, in their respective order of 

 value corresponding to what I should call in English, 

 calico, twill and common cotton cloth. A list of 

 these and other trade goods, together with their 

 values in the interior as a medium of exchange and 

 what can be obtained in return for them, will be found 

 in Appendix C. 



The " tobe " is draped much as the old Romans 

 wore their toga ; its appearance, when clean, is very 

 graceful and picturesque, and must be extremely com- 

 fortable. But when the Somali is travelling, or is on 

 the warpath, he modifies his dress accordingly. A 

 loin-cloth, either plain or brightly coloured, is then worn 

 round the waist, which is supported by a wide belt of 

 tanned leather, in which his broad-bladed knife is 

 carried. The upper part of his body is covered with 



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