378 GYMNASTICS. 



invited by our party, but I showed off by balancing 

 some heavy sheets of pewter, Ohmecl Medina was 

 taking up to the Shoan market. All these I could 

 lift with the greatest ease, and project them from 

 one shoulder a considerable distance. None of my 

 Dankalli companions could do this, and although I 

 was very weak from my recent illness, they all 

 acknowledged my superior strength. This was 

 admitted on more than one occasion; but I recollect 

 once particularly, at Arabderah, being requested to 

 heave away, a large stone half buried in the soil. 

 Garahmee, on going to prayers, there being no 

 water, was necessitated to go through the perform- 

 ance in sand, and the cavity in which the stone was 

 embedded was to represent the bathing vessel. 

 Moosa, Carmel Ibrahim, Ohmed Medina, all tried 

 to remove the stone without the least effect, but I 

 rolled it out with comparative ease. From this 

 circumstance, which was corroborated by other 

 opportunities of observation, I do not consider 

 bodily strength to be a characteristic of the 

 Dankalli, although for agility and endurance under 

 fatigue, I think they are unequalled by any people, 

 not excepting even the North American Indians. 

 That they would incur voluntarily this exercise of 

 their physical and moral endurance is another thing, 

 and from what little I know of them I do not think 

 they would. 



After remaining at Hiero Murroo five days, 

 I was not sorry to find that we were to start on the 



