v RECONNAISSANCE OF ABYVSSINIAN BORDER 145 
small post pushed out by the Abyssinians into the Esa country. 
And as we approached the guard of fifteen men fired a salute in 
our honour. Strict orders had come from Harar that we were 
to be given sheep, milk, and vegetables, that we were not to be 
molested in any way, and above all, that the Odahgub White 
Esa might dance to us if they liked. This they did, and I took 
FEMALE SCEMMERRING’S GAZELLE (Gazella sammerringi). 
Length of horns on curve average 16 inches. 
a photograph of them. I have never seen finer men in any 
Somali tribe than some of these Esa. At So Madu, on 22nd 
September, a mail-bag arrived from Mr. Walsh, from Zeila, 
about a hundred miles distant. News contained in these letters 
necessitated my leaving my brother to finish the traverse. I 
started for Zeila with two attendants and my three Arab trotting 
camels. We slept on the side of the track for two nights, arriving 
in Zeila on the evening of the second day. 
My brother marched down to Loyi-Ada, between Jibuti and 
L 
