162 THROUGH SOMALILAND AND ABYSSINIA CHAP. 
The Gerdd was slightly built, and had the intelligent face and 
well-cut features of the best kind of Somali, a great contrast to 
the coarse-featured soldiers who were allowed to hector over 
him. Despite his old, worn-out tobe he still looked dignified. 
Before the arrival of these Abyssinians, who came into the 
Bertiri country like a swarm of locusts when they took Harar, 
the Gerad had been a man of some repute. But the Abyssinians 
took away all his power, and he is now of little consequence. 
My intercourse with Banagtsé depended on several inter- 
preters ; he spoke Amharic to Gabratagli, who passed it on to 
my interpreter, Adan Yusuf, in Arabic, and the latter translated 
into Hindustani for my benefit. By the time a sentence reached 
me Banagusé was thinking of something else, so we did not make 
much progress. 
The Abyssinians preferred tea to coffee; and I noticed 
Banagtsé rather craned at his cup, and handed it to a friend 
first, suspecting poison. But my headman, Adan Yusuf, full 
of tact, said quietly, “ Mayish khof'” (No fear), and giving a 
short laugh, he took a long draught from the cup, and filled it 
again for the great man. 
On 9th March, in the early morning, Banaguisé sent over 
Abadigal to say he was leaving for Gojar, and requesting that 
I would visit him in the stockade ; so posting a sentry in camp 
I took nineteen of the men in line, rode across the valley, and 
drew up at the Abyssinian zeriba. Leaving most of the men 
outside I entered with four, passing a sentry who saluted me 
by presenting arms in Abyssinian fashion ; and walking across 
the zeriba I entered Banagusé’s hut. Here I found his notables 
assembled, all seated on the ground. I was invited to take my 
place on a raised platform with Banagusé, while Adan Yusuf and 
the other interpreters squatted in front. Banagusé was polite, 
but having little to say, he left Gabratagli to do all the talking. 
After a somewhat embarrassing leave-taking I trotted back 
to camp on my camel, and Banagusé issued from the stockade ; 
and, followed by his army, marched over the plain towards 
Gojar. Looking with my telescope from camp an hour later, 
I made them out in the far distance, and it was pleasant to 
have seen the last of them. 
I was glad to halt at Jig-Jiga for a few days, as the plains 
were dotted over with game.” My men were a thoroughly good 
lot of fellows, and I was particularly pleased with the way in 
which they enabled me to show a bold front to Banagusé. 
