MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 49! 



Sheep and Goats. Sheep and goats can be taken 

 together as both are weekly exported to Aden in 

 large numbers for the consumption of the garrison and 

 the inhabitants. Aden almost entirely depends on 

 British Somaliland for its meat supply. When the sheep 

 are well fed and watered their mutton would be difficult, 

 as regards quality, to beat anywhere. The average 

 number exported yearly is from 70,000 to 80,000, and this 

 might under better conditions be considerably increased. 



Ponies. With the country at peace, Somali ponies 

 though small (they seldom exceed 13 hands) could be 

 bred in large numbers throughout the interior and 

 exported to East Africa, where there is always a growing 

 demand for them. The eastern or Bari pony is a 

 particularly hardy little animal which does not require to 

 be shod and will live for long periods on poor grazing 

 and watering only once in two or three days. 



Donkeys and Mules. Every Somali " rer " possesses 

 two or three donkeys. They are chiefly used for trans- 

 porting the aged women and little children when moving. 

 They are mainly bred by the Ogaden and western Somalis 

 and there is little demand for them. 



Mules are not bred by the Somalis at all. They are 

 occasionally imported from Abyssinia, where the Gallas 

 breed them, but there is no reason why they should not 

 be bred on the western p!ains and exported to East 

 Africa, where there is always a good sale for them. 



Ostriches. Ostriches are reared from the eggs of 

 the wild birds by the Midgans, an outcast race who live 

 among the Somalis in small colonies in certain parts of 

 the country. There is no systematic breeding of the 

 birds although the country is an ideal one for the pur- 

 pose. There is always a good market in Aden for the 

 feathers. 



Animal Products. 



Skins and Hides. The enormous numbers of skins, 

 chiefly sheep-skins, and hides which are weekly exported 

 give, together with the export of the living animals, some 

 idea of the large numbers of sheep in the Somali country. 

 With the country in a more settled state, the export of 



