EN ROUTE FOR SOMALILAND : BHILS AT SEA 



fish, etc., all packed in strong teak-wood boxes. Knowing 

 the importance of carrying a supply of water, I had special 

 water-casks constructed each to contain twelve gallons — 

 two twelve-gallon casks being, as I knew, the full load of a 

 camel. In the way of tents and camp equipment, I took 

 a small double fly Cabul tent weighing 80 lbs,, and an iron 

 folding chair ; a bed I had no need of as I usually slept on 

 the ground, or on store boxes covered with camel mats, 

 which also served the purpose of a table. 



My sporting battery, the most important part of the 

 outfit, consisted of — 



1 Double 8-bore Paradox gun by Holland. 

 1 Double 12-bore Paradox gun by Holland. 

 1 Double 10-bore rifle by Dixon. 

 1 Double -500 Express rifle by Rigby. 

 1 Double '450 Express rifle by Cogswell and Harrison. 

 1 Lee Metford -303. 



The last I found quite useless against the larger antelope 

 — such as the oryx, hartcbecst, etc. — for it has little knock- 

 ing down power unless the bullet happens to strike a vital 

 spot. 



A brace of revolvers, a hand camera and compass com- 

 pleted my outfit. 



We took our passages for Aden on 15th March in the P. 

 and O. s.s. Macedonia. The two Bhils, who had never seen 

 the sea before, were greatly struck with, and also much 

 impressed by, some battleships which happened to be lying 

 in the harbour at the time. 



We liad a rough passage — very unusual at this time of 

 the year — and finally reached Aden on the fifth day of the 

 voyage. I was greatly amused at the numerous questions 

 my men asked me ; as to the navigation and mechanism 

 of the ship — once they had recovered their equilibrium, for 

 f luy had both been horribly sea-sick. 



I tried to explain to them the uses of the compass, 

 Hi ' though my knowledge of such matters WES not 



mi.. ior than their own. However, they accepted all 



I said, but I fancy, from the hints they threw out, they quite 

 believed tliat the wake of the steamer was the pathway to 

 their destination. 



On arrival at Aden I was met by my friend P , of 



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