CHAPTER XXI 



Decide on a shooting trip to Somaliland Popular belief about its inhabi- 

 tants Erroneous ideas Diminishing game Collecting information 

 Preparations for the Expedition Initial difficulties finally overcome 

 Calling for volunteers Gungdya and Sabha come forward A 

 study in contrasts Stores and equipment My battery Embark for 

 Aden The voyage Its effect on the two Bhils Explaining the com- 

 pass Arrive at Aden Take passage to Berbera Black beetles and 

 noisy natives Collecting a " Kafila " Purchase baggage camels 

 Engaging an escort Supplies and provisions A desolate land 

 Drilling the escort Abdi, the headman His multifarious duties 

 The construction of zarebas A camp in Somaliland described 

 Engage two shikaris Khaliffa and Nur Projects and plans Un- 

 friendly natives likely to be encountered Confidence in Abdi 

 Troubles with camel men Marching across a waterless plain 

 Somalis armed to the teeth Wild appearance of these men Decorated 

 murderers Weapons used in warfare Somali women Their dress 

 and appearance Not held in much account Often abandoned on 

 the march. 



IN the year 1893 I decided on making a private hunting 

 expedition to Somaliland, a country which has always borne 

 the reputation of being the home of a bigoted, ferocious, 

 savage race whose hand is against every man. 



Somaliland was, at the time I purposed visiting it, more 

 or less a terra incognita to sportsmen, but it has since 

 been opened out, with the result that the terrifying accounts 

 of the dangers and difficulties of entering the country have 

 proved to have been somewhat exaggerated. 



As with all fresh hunting grounds, the advent of the 

 sportsman has had the usual effect, and the number of 

 wild animals formerly to be found there, has considerably 

 diminished, though in the unexplored portions of the Haud 

 and Ogadin game is still plentiful, especially lions. 



Having collected all the information I could obtain re- 

 garding the country and completed preparations for my 

 expedition, I applied to the Bombay Government through 



M 161 



