TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 67 



did wonders, bagging a fine oryx after an exciting 

 stalk, a lesser koodoo — a most beautiful creature — and 

 a jackal. It was of the black-backed variety, with silver 

 hairs and flaming yellow sides, and I admired him 

 immensely. He was a monster too, and measured four 

 feet as he lay. 



The men were revelling in any amount of meat of 

 my cousin's providing. I think we were more generous 

 in this direction than are many hunters. The caravan 

 is expected to rely on the usual ration of rice and 

 dates — the latter a gummed together mass of fruit, 

 which is eaten by the Somalis in handfuls. They were 

 quite good, for I tasted them frequently. 



We bought sheep throughout the trip, either by 

 exchange or for cash ; and, as I say, there was a 

 plentiful supply of venison. 



As soon as I could ride we marched, and very glad 

 we were to leave the place where circumstances had 

 enforced so long a stay. The camp began to take on 

 the slovenly, dirty ways of the average Somali karia 

 The spirit of idleness sits ill on these natives. They 

 like doing nothing, but doing nothing does not like 

 them, and very speedily they get slothful. 



The procedure of our camping arrangements varied 

 but little when things were normal and going smoothly. 

 On selecting the right spot to halt, every man went to 

 his own work, and our tents were up almost as soon as 

 they were taken off the kneeling camels, who flopped 

 down, joyfully obedient at the first sign of a rest, and, 

 being relieved of the loads, were allowed to graze at 

 once. Our butler put out everything we needed, set 



