148 THROUGH SOMALILAND AND ABYSSINIA CHAP. 
Ras Makunan’s invitation, received by me at Gildessa, might be 
very useful, because such a visit would ensure respectful treat- 
ment from any marauding Abyssinian soldiers whose path I might 
cross on my route to the Webbe. On the other hand, there was 
a chance that Ras Makunan might put obstacles in my way ; 
but as he would get news of my journey in any case, whether 
I went to Harar or not, I considered it best to visit him, and 
laying before him my project, trust in his intelligent co-operation. 
I thought, moreover, Harar would be an interesting place to 
visit, and I knew that Rds Makunan would be glad of such a 
chance of exchanging ideas with a British officer. J mentioned 
my project to the political authorities, who, though not in a 
position to use my services, kindly allowed me to go in from 
British ports. Eventually I started for Harar, armed with 
eighteen Snider carbines; a letter of recommendation to ‘all 
tribes whose countries I might pass through” drawn up at the 
Residency, Aden; a note to Ras Makunan from Signor Cecchi, 
the Italian Consul-General; and a “round robin” in Arabic, 
from Sheikh Mattar of Hargeisa, to all the mullahs, widads, and 
chiefs of the Malingtir and Rer Amdden Somalis, and of the 
Geriré Gallas beyond Imé. 
The caravan, which I got together at Berbera on this 
occasion, was the best equipped and manned that I have ever 
done work with. The men were twenty-four picked Somalis, 
all of whom had been under my command on many expeditions, 
and they were chosen from among some two hundred applicants 
for this particular trip. 
In Aden I bought three Arab trotting camels and at Berbera 
thirty-three Somali baggage camels. I engaged Adan Yusuf as 
caravan leader and interpreter, Géli and Hassan as hunters, 
Daura Warsama as guide, a cook, butler, and eighteen camel- 
men—in all twenty-four men. 
To Adan Yusuf I lent a Martini-Henry carbine, my hunters 
carried my own spare big-game rifles, and the rest of the men 
carried two Martini and eighteen Snider carbines. I took one 
hundred and fifty rounds of ball ammunition per man, a box of 
buckshot cartridges, and a box of blank ones for firing salutes 
and signals, and for skirmishing drill. Fifty rounds per man of 
the ball ammunition I expended in Bulhér and during the 
journey in field-firing at targets. 
Organising the caravan at Berbera, I marched to Bulhar, and 
there remained a week to drill the men and put them through 
