A VALUABLE ASSET 



cause of two-thirds of the inter-tribal feuds and 

 tribal troubles, the cause of the remaining third 

 being woman." 



And this love for them is not surprising, when it 

 is remembered what an important role camels play in 

 the lives of the Somali. The wealth of a native is 

 estimated by the number he possesses, although in 

 southern Jubaland cattle are an almost equally 

 valuable asset. The reason for this is that the 

 country is not nearly so suitable for camels as is 

 Somaliland, for south of the Lak Dera the ground 

 often becomes very swampy during the rains, and 

 under such conditions camels are almost useless for 

 transport. But in the drier and more sandy country 

 round Wajheir and Eil Wak, the Somali possess 

 enormous herds. That part of Jubaland which I 

 crossed does not seem to suit them, and the natives 

 were unanimous in declaring that it was extremely 

 difficult to keep them in condition. 



Although I only lost three on the way, I always 

 had one or two sick, in spite of the fact that I was 

 especially solicitous for their welfare and took care 

 that they were lightly loaded, and were allowed to 

 graze and rest on every possible occasion. I can 

 give no adequate reason for this, but the fact remains. 

 They seem also to be particularly susceptible to a 

 variety of obscure diseases, of which the "camel 

 sickness " seems to be the most fatal. The general 

 symptoms of this illness are an increasing disinclina- 

 tion to feed, so that the animal gradually wastes 

 away, the loss of sight and violent colic. There is 

 also a foul discharge from the nostrils, and generally 

 some swelling about the head. One of my camels 

 died from this disease, and after death I made a brief 



274 



