CHAPTER XVII 



FROM HARYEL TO THE LORIAN SWAMP 



These Somali proved to be from the Maghabul tribe : 

 they were astonished at seeing a white man, and not 

 without reason, for none had passed that way before. 

 But as soon as they had recovered from their first 

 feeHngs of surprise, they warmly greeted me, and on 

 learning that I was bound for the Lorian, they asked 

 me to camp, in order that they might provide me with 

 guides. They were travelling in the same direction, 

 and several of their party had gone on ahead to find 

 the best and quickest way, but they were shortly 

 expected back, and the headman told me he would be 

 glad to send one with me. I was only too glad to 

 camp by the big pool, and rest both my men and my 

 camels, so I readily fell in with his suggestion. It 

 was not long before my tent was up ; soon I was 

 enjoying the luxury of a hot bath, after which I lay 

 down for a quiet and pleasant sleep. From this I 

 was awakened by the sound of many voices outside, 

 so I got up to see what was the matter. I found the 

 headman of the cattle safari, with all his followers, 

 waiting to speak to me. So I dressed, and, sitting 

 down in front of my tent, I called them up. The 

 headman then presented me with a nice fat calf, for 

 which I was indeed most grateful, as I was very 

 hungry and it would provide me with the best meal 

 I had had for some time. He then went on to make 



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