MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 489 



and precious stones very little is known, so for the 

 present it would be imprudent to hazard an opinion. 



Stock-raising has been the only occupation of the 

 inhabitants since the earliest times. Camels, ponies, 

 donkeys, sheep and goats comprise the sole wealth of 

 these nomadic people. 



Agricultural production, with the sole exception of 

 a few acres around the "tarikas" or mullahs' settle- 

 ments in certain localities has never been attempted 

 owing to the fact that the very existence of the stock, 

 the Somali's sole means of subsistence, necessitates the 

 nomadic life. 



Notwithstanding, however, his wandering proclivities 

 the Somali is a born trader, and as soon as he finds out 

 that any of the products of his country have a market 

 value he is not slow to avail himself of this knowledge. 



For centuries he has brought down to the coast for 

 barter or for sale myrrh, frankincense, scented bdellium, 

 gums and ostrich feathers, the products of the interior, 

 and this notwithstanding his caravans being frequently 

 looted en route. He cannot be expected to do more 

 as long as his country is in the same unsettled state. 

 It is wonderful that the exports remain as high as they 

 do. 



Before dealing separately with ,the resources of the 

 country I should here like to digress and make a few 

 remarks about the water supply. 



The Somali country, and that part in particular which 

 is painted crimson on the map, is frequently designated 

 ' ( waterless " and " a desert" owing to the fact that 

 there are no flowing rivers or streams. Were the rain- 

 fall sufficient to produce them they would however soon 

 be lost owing to the porous nature of the soil. Notwith- 

 standing this the country is by no means waterless 

 numerous permanent springs exist throughout the 

 country, especially in the more mountainous parts, but as 

 the water is only required by the Somali for his domestic 

 needs it is allowed to flow away and disappear beneath 

 the surface and thence find its way to the sea. 



At Dubar, in the maritime hills, hot springs exist and 

 the water from these, before it was required for the town 



