1844.] Note on the Mijjertheyn Somalees. 329 



other employment is gathering gums in the hot weather. Great care 

 is required in tending the sheep and goats, on account of the number 

 of cheetas that prowl about in the neighbourhood. On one of the 

 savage animals being seen, the alarm is instantly given, and the men 

 sally forth well armed to dislodge the intruder. A desperate fight 

 takes place which ends in the death of the tiger, after he has fearfully 

 clawed one or two of his assailants. 



Some of the principal Bedouin chiefs possess upwards of a thousand 

 she-camels, which may be valued at two or three dollars each, located 

 in different pastures many days distant from each other, and under the 

 care of one of the wives, and a few followers belonging to the family. 

 They are generally found in droves of 50 to 80. The sheep and goats 

 are divided in the same manner, a man rarely keeping more than 500 

 in one place, and thus the life of the chief is spent in continually wan- 

 dering from gkurreea to ghurreea, visiting his different folds as well as 

 his different wives. The number of sheep and goats exported from this 

 coast, though not one-tenth so great as from Kurreem and Berbura, is 

 still enormous, and not less than 15,000 head per annum; but the 

 sheep for export generally come from the Wadi Mogul, and the fertile 

 plains bordering on the province of Murreyhan. 



They have large droves of horned cattle, the milk of which is almost 

 entirely used for the purpose of making ghee. They are fine animals, 

 and one that we purchased at Ras Assey weighed above 300 pounds. 



Horses are abundant amongst them, and highly valued. The best 

 description frequently selling for 150 dollars, (in kind.) They are of 

 a small breed, and so villainously treated, that whatever beauty they 

 may have when very young, completely disappears by the time they are 

 five years old. To ride violently to your tent three or four times be- 

 fore finally dismounting is considered a great compliment, and the same 

 ceremony is observed on leaving. Springing into his saddle, (if he has 

 one) with his spears and shield, the Somali cavalier first endeavours 

 to infuse a little spirit into his half-starved hack, by persuading him to 

 accomplish a few plunges and capers, and then his heels raining a hur- 

 ricane of blows against the animal's ribs, and occasionally using his 

 spear point as a spur, away he gallops, and after a short circuit in 

 which he endeavours to shew himself off to the best advantage, returns 

 to his starting point at full speed, when the heavy Arab bit l< brings up" 



