TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 255 



consternation to the sheep as the appearance of the 

 lion could have done. The man had to be followed 

 by the necessary humanitarian inquiries, and we re- 

 flected that no lion with an ounce of caution about him 

 would have failed to take warning long ere this. The 

 rain had damped our ardour as well as our clothes. We 

 voted for camp and bed. Cecily affixed the irons to 

 her boots and descended, and then I pulled them up 

 again for my use. Clarence got the rifles down, and 

 the fallen hunter had no need to get any lower. There 

 we all stood in pouring rain. Clarence had to lead the 

 hunter who claimed to be badly injured, and Cecily 

 and I led the sheep. 



The caravan was silent, fires out with the rain, but 

 the watch was alert, for on our approach we heard, 

 " Kuma ? " (Who are you ?) repeated twice. Clarence 

 replied " Friends," and we passed, and all was well 

 — at least more or less, for the camp was in a dismal 

 state of slop. A big rain-storm speedily turns the 

 deep sand to mud. The men were sleeping beneath 

 herios, and I think one or two had been making free 

 with our tents, as they had a very hot native smell 

 about them when we turned in to rid ourselves of our 

 dripping garments. The canvas residences stood up 

 well that night and resisted the downpour valiantly. 

 Everything was damp and fires were impossible. 



All the next day the deluge continued. It was no 

 use to attempt to go a-hunting, as the rain was washing 

 out spoor as fast as the animals walked. The day 

 dragged through somehow, and bored us almost to 

 tears. However, night saw a welcome cessation of 



