200 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



a couple of the native dyed blue and red khaili tobes to 

 take home as souvenirs, so Clarence managed it for 

 us by handing over two new white ones, a turban, 

 and a couple of iron tent pegs. These last were great 

 treasures, as they can be fashioned into spear heads. 

 The throwing spear is a cruel barbed affair, but some are 

 plain. Accurately pitched it is a deadly weapon, 

 and the Somali as he throws gives the spear a smart 

 knock on the palm of his hand, which conveys an 

 odd trembling that keeps the shaft straight as it flies 

 through the air. The spear blades take different 

 shapes in the different tribes, but shields seem to be of 

 uniform pattern — of oryx, rhino, or other leather, 

 made with a handle at the back. 



We did a short march in the evening and were spared 

 the trouble of building a zareba, and like cuckoos, 

 took up a place in a nest of some one's making. It had 

 been evacuated long enough to be fairly clean, and 

 did us well with a little patching. Ant-hills around us 

 were so numerous we seemed in the centre of some 

 human settlement. That night a leopard entered our 

 zareba and, regardless of the fires and the watch, 

 clawed one of the ponies badly, being only driven off 

 by having a rifle fired at him. Even at such close 

 quarters the bullet found no billet, as there was no 

 sign of the blood trail. We could clearly see the spot 

 where our visitor entered ; the thorn was lower and 

 weaker there. We decided to remain over the next 

 night and try and catch him. I gave orders for some- 

 body to ride back towards the camp of our dibaltig 

 friends and, if possible, buy a goat for tying up. Mean- 



