220 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



plague of locusts, and their millions darkened all the 

 sky, like the big black crow in Alice's Adventures 

 through the Looking-glass, taking an hour or more to 

 pass. Some didn't pass at all, but settled in countless 

 thousands on an area of red sand, that they changed 

 to rainbow colours. Closely looked at, they are 

 the ordinary familiar locust of many countries, in 

 shades of green, yellow, with red spots. Cecily, who 

 would, I believe, curry anything, said they ought to 

 taste like prawns. The insects quite forgot their 

 plain duty — and didn't. They tasted like — well, like 

 themselves ! The shell of the back was as hard as 

 nails, and I'm sure they were meant to be anything 

 but curried. 



At last, towards 6.30, as the light was not so good, 

 we found ourselves on a plain again covered with 

 splendid trees, and we knew we had left the dreary 

 waste of forsaken desert behind us. Turning joyfully 

 in my saddle I waved my hand, crying Au revoir. 



" It's good-bye as far as I'm concerned," said 

 Cecily stolidly. 



We came to a place of many deep wells, and the men 

 went down forthwith and began watering the animals. 

 A few busied themselves cutting the thorn for the 

 zareba, whilst two more erected our tents. The 

 camels commenced to graze as each one was satisfied 

 by a drink. 



We rested under a thorn tree until, in awful moment, 

 we realised it was already in the possession of a most 

 horrible-looking creature, a hateful monster who eyed 

 us from his branch above us. We vacated our seats 



