TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 33 



know how I was meant to be able to get along without 

 it, but I suppose he didn't think that mattered. 



It was then that Clarence, who had, I believe, been 

 yearning to ask all along, wanted to know if I was any 

 good with a rifle, and the other Mem-sahib could she 

 shoot, and if so how had we learned, for the Somalis 

 are nothing if not direct. They rather remind me of 

 English North-country people with their outspoken 

 inquisitiveness, which is at home always regarded as 

 such charming straightforwardness of character. 



I was as modest as I could be under the circum- 

 stances, but I had to allay any fears the man might be 

 harbouring. Besides, it is not well to under-estimate 

 oneself, especially to a Somali. Nowadays everywhere 

 it is the thing to remove the bushel from one's light 

 and to make it glare in all men's eyes. My advice to 

 any one who wants to be heard of is — Advertise, adver- 

 tise, advertise. If you begin by having a great opinion 

 of yourself and talk about it long enough, you generally 

 end by being great in the opinion of everyone else. I 

 told our shikari I had the use of my uncle's fine range 

 at home, and the advantage of what sport there was 

 to be had in England and Scotland. Also that this 

 was not our first expedition. The knowledge of all 

 this and my unbounded confidence, not to say cheek, 

 set all doubts at rest. 



Every night I was rendered desperate by the scratch- 

 ing in my room of some little rodent which thundered 

 about the floor as though his feet were shod with iron. 



Hurrah ! At last I had him ! He stole my biscuits 

 set for my "chota hazari," and sometimes left me 



c 



