IV GOVERNMENT EXPLORATIONS 87 
place in a narrow valley just behind the crest of the highest 
bluffs of the Gélis Range, at an elevation of six thousand feet 
above sea-level. 
On the following day, after establishing a small camp on the 
‘top of Fodwein Bluff, we chose our theodolite station within a 
short distance of the edge of Fodwein, which falls several 
hundred feet sheer to the Mirso ledge below. This was the first 
of a long chain of stations for fixing the main positions on our 
route, by observations of the stars for azimuth and latitude, with 
a six-inch transit theodolite. 
We remained here four days, and obtained a good azimuth on 
to’a point on a small hill called Yirrowa, fifty-five miles away to 
the east of south, on the main route to the Dolbahanta country. 
Looking towards Yirrowa from the top of Gdlis we could see 
only one immense expanse of dark brown bush, becoming quite 
blue in the distance and looking like a sea-horizon, broken only 
by the small hill Yirrowa, and a long, light blue line, dancing 
high above the horizon in the heat haze and mirage, which 
indicated the Bur Dab Range, two days’ march beyond Yirrowa. 
The whole of the country ahead was unmapped, the first 
European caravans to go so far south being those of Colonel 
Paget to the south-west of us, and of Mr. Clarke, which had 
gone to the interior a few days before towards the south-east. 
Eventually we left both these caravans far to the west. 
From our elevated position, which was now 6800 feet above 
the sea, we had a fine view of the Maritime Ranges and Berbera 
Plain, and obtained a back azimuth on the Berbera Masjid 
tower, thirty-five miles distant. It was cold at night, the 
thermometer going down to 58°, with a chilling drizzle and 
clouds of mist which often enveloped us, making observations 
impossible. 
On the 22nd we marched back to Upper Sheikh, and while 
camped near the graves at night, the mullahs from Guldu 
Hamed ran to us crying that looters were coming down. Men 
were running by, who said they were Habr Gerhajis, and that 
their cattle had been lifted by a neighbouring tribe. We 
remained under arms for awhile and then turned in. Next 
morning it transpired that the camels had been allowed to stray, . 
and had afterwards been found. 
We marched six miles to Dubbur, the last water before we 
should reach Bér, about sixty miles farther, and filled our 
casks. Here we entered the great wooded and undulating water- 
