Somali 



annas a hit, and though over twenty men fired, 

 it only cost us a rupee (sixteen annas). 



We were now fairly out on the great waterless 

 Haud, and on the northern edge of the Toyo plain, 

 all rolling grass, not a bush visible for miles. The 

 rains, however, had only just begun; the grass 

 was dried up, and no game was visible. A month 

 later it was a very different story. Some sport 

 was even then to be had, however, and going out 

 in the afternoon, I had got about two miles and 

 a half from camp when I saw a large, yellow- 

 looking animal moving in some high grass that 

 is, grass about four feet high ; it was generally 

 quite short, but attained this height in patches. 

 I took a shot at the fore-end of the beast, hoping 

 it was a lion, which it was not ; but I found I had 

 rolled over a most magnificent wart-hog. I had 

 come out on foot, and no Somali will touch a pig, 

 I therefore had to cut off his head and carry it 

 back to camp no light job while next day I had 

 to dig out his tushes, which were well over a 

 foot long and massive in proportion. 



On my return home I had these tushes 

 mounted, back to back, with a small lamp for 

 lighting cigars, etc., in the middle, and presented 

 them to the Fifth Dragoon Guards mess. Eustace 

 had also been in luck to-day, bagging our first 

 oryx bull. 



The next day I got another Speke's gazelle 

 103 



