TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 153 



a pot of marmalade. They ate away to their hearts 

 content, for no human being thought of going in and 

 interfering ; but the brainy Clarence put some sugar in 

 their official residence and the counter attraction 

 caused them to return. 



There was a strong moon now, so magical that it 

 set all the jackals for miles around a-baying and 

 a-barking, and nearly distracted us whose vocal chords 

 were not so susceptible. What this mysterious influ- 

 ence on the canine genus is no man can tell, but it had 

 the effect of making me rouse some of the men to eject 

 rocks at the offenders. The worship of Astarte was 

 all very well in olden days, but the manner of it in 

 Somaliland was intolerable. 



A quaint insect made a loud tapping noise in the 

 roof of my tent — probably his love signal. I tried to 

 see him, but he hid from the light. Altogether I had 

 a wakeful time. 



I watched some weavers building next morning as I 

 strolled about, the while the parody of a cook struggled 

 with the kettle which seemed unable to boil. It really 

 was very wonderful and astonishing. They snip off 

 the threads of gra^s with their beaks, and actually tie 

 knots, half-hitches. It was rather late for building, 

 but the cock birds of this species, sensible little things, 

 sometimes make nests for roosting purposes. 



Whydah birds were flying about in large numbers. 

 They have crimson bodies, black wings and tails 

 about two feet long, which hamper them so in flight 

 they can only lollop along. I pursued one, and could 

 have caught it had I wished. They are finches, and 



