276 NATIVES FIGHTING. 



spears that were thrown almost struck the shields 

 of those with whom I was sitting. About thirty 

 yards beyond the combatants, who, in close fight, 

 were yelling, struggling, and falling, another line, 

 consisting chiefly of my Hy Soumaulee escort, sat 

 with their shields before them, in the same quiet 

 spectator-like fashion as ourselves. I must observe, 

 however, that Adam Burrah and Moosa, as soon as 

 they saw me in the line with the Tajourah people, 

 came from the opposite side, and sat close in front 

 of me. Ohmed Medina told me not to fire, or take 

 any part in the business except to take care of 

 myself, as the quarrel was a private one, and that 

 no one would attack us, if we did not commence 

 hostilities. To make more secure against an 

 accident, Ebin Izaak kept his hand on my right 

 arm all the time, to prevent me taking up either of 

 my guns that lay upon the ground on each side of 

 me. 



During the fight I noticed, that occasionally one 

 of the Kafilah men would spring up from his 

 sitting posture, and with a loud shout run towards 

 the combatants. He was invariably answered by 

 one of the Hy Soumaulee opposite, who rushed to 

 meet him ; so that in a short time, more than 

 double the number of the original fighters were 

 engaged. 



The contest which was now taking place in my 

 sight was an actual representation, on a small 

 scale, of the mode of fighting practised by the 



