TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 249 



five, and we had to economise or we should clear out 

 our stock before we finished up at Berbera. We had 

 started out with several pieces of sheeting, but had 

 done an immense amount of distributing. A tobe 

 when cut has to be about twelve times over the length 

 from a man's elbow to his finger tips. That is how 

 we measured. We offered half a dozen tobes, and 

 suggested that the performers should toss up for 

 them. 



A hurricane of stormy words ensued, most annoying, 

 as six tobes at a whack is very generous indeed. The 

 men could not be invited to a meal because the rice 

 supplies would not bear any undue strain. The affair 

 ended with the presentation of five good clasp knives. 

 And then the dissatisfied warriors rode away. We 

 took the opportunity of telling Clarence that if any 

 more Somalis came bent on doing this dibaltig per- 

 formance they must do it on their own. We had seen 

 enough of it. And run on the present lines it is more 

 expensive than a box at the opera. We went back 

 to a second tea, and a bath to get rid of the dust that 

 covered us like flour. 



In the evening, Cecily and I again penetrated my 

 koodoo forest by ourselves, more for the pleasure of 

 wandering in the beautiful oasis than anything, and 

 our search went farther than my stroll of the morning. 

 We pushed and crawled our way through the densest 

 thickets that we might find the reason for such flapping 

 and screaming of dozens and dozens of vultures, kites 

 and hawks. In a thicket of thorn where the durr 

 grass grew high, and in patches left off altogether, 



