Sporting Trips of a Subaltern 



spent an uninteresting day. A fine-looking 

 Somali rode into our camp, looking a great swell 

 with his flowing "tobes," wiry pony and orna- 

 mental spears. He brought four good sheep with 

 him, and, after presenting them, said he wished 

 to hunt with us, and that if we were full up he 

 would come for only his keep and fill any vacant 

 place that might occur. We took him, and he 

 proved a great success. 



The second morning after our arrival at this 

 water-hole two joyful events took place. Firstly, 

 our camels came back with water ; and, secondly, 

 a Somali came galloping in to say that the lions 

 had been again located, or rather had located 

 themselves by bursting into a karia (encampment) 

 twelve miles away and carrying off two sheep. 

 This always rouses the Somali. Lions frequently 

 follow karias, and seize on stray camels, donkeys, 

 sheep, goats, etc., which the Somali looks on 

 as their perquisites ; but when they get too bold 

 and come right in, it becomes a matter of life or 

 death, as the next victim may be a man, and they 

 band together, all mounted, and have a go in at 

 him. I understood, though I never saw one of 

 these hunts, that they daze him with their numbers, 

 their shouting and their galloping, and gradually 

 get closer till they are able, as they charge round 

 him, to throw their spears with effect. A good 

 horseman on a good mount that is already galloping 



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