PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION xiii” 
though I am open to correction, and really it does not matter 
much—that this is the first casualty in action recorded up to 
date to the Mullah’s credit since Erigo last year. I say up to 
date, because in following up the Mullah’s flocks more skirmish- 
ing may be expected. 
I do not think the Mullah will attack a zeriba again, nor 
attack in the open, and he will probably not come on until he is 
desperately cornered or sees a certain chance of scoring, which 
we, if it isa mere case of fighting, may rely on picked troops, 
like our British and Boer Mounted Infantry, Bikanir Camel 
Corps, and Sikhs, to prevent.1 
As to the chances of his being captured, he has been moved 
towards the north-west, the right direction, and his prestige 
must have been much diminished by the chasing about he has 
had. It is said his followers are dispersing, and we may 
confidently expect captures of his stock at the present time by 
the British and Abyssinian forces. But the rainy season is 
coming on, when for some eight months there may be abundant 
pools and grass at any time, even in the Haud; it is his 
mancuvring time, while the dry Jilél—that is, January, 
February, and March—has been the season of least mobility for 
him. I therefore expect renewed activity from the Mullah any 
time in the next eight months. These advantages of grass and 
water will at the same time help our troops, always provided we 
have sufficient camels to carry the impedimenta. 
There is little likelihood of the Mullah playing our game by 
attacking us unless he is obliged to; but a large capture of 
stock might have the desired effect, as the herdsmen belonging to 
the tribes which lose camels can generally pluck up courage to try 
and get them back, and.‘‘sitting over a bait,” though not in the 
strategy books, is a good practical way of bringing on a fight in 
Somaliland. The attack on M‘Neill’s zeriba shows this. 
If the Mullah does get off this year it must be with a 
wholesome fear of our Protectorate, which, by the way, he has 
never entered since he was driven out the third time by my 
brother in the operations previous to the fight at Erigo last 
October. 
1 This was written before the annihilation of the flying column under Col. 
Plunkett on 17th April. 
Lonpon, 21st April 1903. 
