TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 77 



hither and thither, dazing the mazed creature with 

 their cries and hurry. In the end the monarch always 

 abdicates, and some Somali, quicker than his fellows, 

 finishes the business with a drive of his spear. It is 

 not unlike the principle of bull-fighting, except that in 

 the case of the Somalis self-preservation originates the 

 necessity for the battle. 



In the lion-world I noticed that the rule of Place anx 

 dames did not apply. The male invariably tried to 

 take the shortest route to safety, and madam had to 

 look after herself. 



Buck of every variety forms the staple food of lions. 

 I have heard that they have been known to kill wart- 

 hog, but never myself came on any proof of this. 



A large trading caravan passed us here en route to 

 Berbera. They were taking a heterogeneous collection 

 for sale at the coast town, ostrich feathers, ghee, gum- 

 arabic, prayer-mats and skins of all varieties. They 

 sold us some ghee, which we were gladi to get, as our 

 supply was running low. Their huts were standing 

 when we came on the caravan, and on the march were 

 carried on camels as our tents were. Like turtles, we 

 carried our houses with us wherever we went. We 

 wrote two or three letters, enclosing them in an outer 

 envelope asking that they should be posted. Then 

 we gave them to the head-man of the trading party 

 with a request that he should hand them to the first 

 sahib he saw in Berbera. The letters eventually turned 

 up at their destinations, so some good Samaritan 

 posted them. 



That same evening, as Cecily was riding alongside 



