ARMS 



The hunters carry in addition a bow and arrow if 

 they have no rifle, a light stick to which is attached 

 a bunch of marabou feathers for testing- the wind, and 

 a hollow stick about 2 feet long by J inch in diameter 

 for drinking water, when it is situated deep down 

 amongst the rocks, or in the hollow of a tree trunk. 

 Fastened to the quiver in which they carry their 

 arrows are two small baofs ; one contains the iron 

 arrow-heads, which only fit loosely in the shafts, 

 some poison for smearing on them, manufactured 

 from an evergreen, locally known as the Wabayu, little 

 bits of gut for tying on the feathers, and various odds 

 and ends ; the other smaller one contains charms of 

 all kinds, some of which may consist of verses of the 

 Koran, while others may be merely little bits of cloth, 

 a lion's tooth, a rusty nail or similar small objects, 

 which they believe will bring them success. 



Very curious was a hook, strangely twisted and 

 ornamented, about 3 inches long, made of soft iron, 

 which I noticed was carried by most of these hunters. 

 I was able to obtain one specimen, but could not elicit 

 any information from its owner as to its use. I am 

 at a loss to understand what purpose it may serve, 

 unless they employ it for roasting meat above the 

 fire, in which case it would seem that the natives 

 would have had no objection to tell me. 



All implements of iron are made by a certain class 

 of dependant known as the Tomal. These men are 

 Somali who have married a woman of the Midgan, 

 an outcast tribe, whose origin is wrapped in obscurity. 

 The Tomal are despised by the Somali, and are 

 treated as inferiors, but why they are not allowed to 

 possess cattle, with very rare exceptions, and why they 

 are compelled to become iron-workers, is a mystery 



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