MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 499 



'Floss or Silk-Cotton. The " Bo'o " (Calotropis 

 procera), which has been mentioned already (p. 494), is 

 a common plant in British Somaliland, and this is par- 

 ticularly the case outside the town of Bulhar, where there 

 are several acres of it growing for a mile or more along 

 the coast. 



The floss around the seeds has been used by the Arabs 

 and the Somalis in the towns for stuffing their pillows, 

 and if cultivated on a large scale might be useful in 

 upholstery. 



Furthermore, as machinery has of late years been 

 invented for the spinning of this and similar flosses, 

 materials could be manufactured from it. It grows ii? 

 such profusion in Bulhar, the soil of which seems par 

 ticularly suited to it, that the further cultivation of it 

 would be worth a trial. For several miles along the coast- 

 line, both east and west of the town of Bulhar, the plant 

 could be grown as there is always a plentiful supply 

 of slightly brackish water within six or eight feet of 

 the surface. 



Mineral Products. 



Little or nothing is known of the mineralogy of 

 Somaliland and until experts have examined the country 

 nothing can be stated definitely. 



At Kirrit, in the Ain Valley, there is a thick and what 

 appears to be a valuable seam of alabaster, but unless 

 a railway happened to pass within a short distance of 

 the spot the cost of transport would be too heavy. 



Oil. It is at present difficult to express any opinion 

 as to the value of the native reports -concerning the 

 presence or absence of oil-shale in the Protectorate. 

 Only recently a deposit, the extent of which is at present 

 unknown, was discovered within 30 miles of Berbera 

 and should this prove a rich field there should be no 

 difficulty, after distilling the light petroleum, kerosene 

 and lubricating oils, in conveying them in pipes to 

 Berbera, where there is an excellent harbour. 



Samples from this deposit have already been submitted 

 for expert opinion. 



With the country at peace, small bodies of Somalis 

 of different tribes might be trained and sent throughout 



