TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 291 



limned clear the mighty peaks, and brooding night 

 swept gently down the slopes and wrapped the world 

 in sombre garb. The wild eerie grandeur of it im- 

 pressed me greatly, and I simply could not leave our 

 terraced plateau, but beneath the arch of the stars 

 sat on and marvelled. Then, as though by some 

 special arrangement of Providence for our good 

 entertainment, a mighty storm brewed itself sullenly 

 away over the Marmitime, then crept insidiously to 

 the Golis, and broke in majesty. The bombardment 

 lasted for an hour or more, reverberating through every 

 pass and every ravine; the heavens were alight with 

 wondrous flashes, that rent the air in forked spears, 

 striking down to the depths of the darkest crevass. 



We were as safe outside the tent as in, I think, but 

 nowhere very safe , the lightning grew so close. 

 Some of the men got under herios, some even under 

 the standing camels, a nice Juggernaut to run the 

 risk of bringing down on one's devoted head. Then, 

 gradually the wildness passed, and spent itself in 

 deep-tongued mutterings and distant murmurs. Then 

 came the rain, Somali rain, and we had to shelter. 

 Cecily's treasure had made us our inevitable night- 

 cap — tea — before the streams of water drenched his 

 fire. Thanks be ! 



I pictured in my mind the days when herds of 

 elephants roamed the Golis valleys, and the lion woke 

 the still ravines with resonant sound. Alas ! this 

 place will know them no more. 



The Sheik Pass is, of course, christened after the 

 old gentleman who is buried in the wedding-cake 



