TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 155 



we passed through extraordinary changes. Every two 

 or three miles or so we came on similar oases to Galadi 

 and then, in between, burnt up patches of familiar 

 country. In one of these green gardens Cecily bagged 

 a lesser koodoo, somewhat rare in these parts, and an 

 exceedingly beautiful trophy. 



Nearing another oasis, some two miles in extent, 

 Clarence manifested the greatest desire for me to 

 penetrate the place with him and see something that 

 was bound to interest me. He was like a woman with 

 a secret, longing to tell, telling a little, then feeling if 

 he showed his hand entirely I might not trouble to go 

 at all. Whatever could the mystery be ? Animal, 

 vegetable, or mineral ? " Curiouser and curiouser." 

 None of these things ! So, following the shikari, his 

 face all alight with eager interest and desire to surprise 

 me, we pushed ourway through the density of the foliage 

 until we reached about the centre of the place. It was 

 a Titania's bower, carpeted with green and shaded by 

 lofty trees. I sat down and gazed upon the wonders 

 of it, though it would have taken me hours to take in 

 the many beauties in detail. They were so infinite in 

 variety, the etchings, the colour and the rainbow effects 

 as the sun glinted through the lustrous fresh verdure. I 

 sat on and marvelled. To think that outside of this 

 there existed only a waste of red sand, ugly and 

 monotonous, and here— but it is ridiculous on my part 

 to try and describe it. I should like some Shakespeare 

 to see it and try his art. 



This did not please Clarence at all, who has no love 

 for the beauties of nature. We must push on. Then, 



