224 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



they needed ; so they were compelled to dispose of 

 some of their women. 



Among those sold was the wife of Bykender. 

 She appeared to be his favourite consort, and was 

 possessed of a really pleasant disposition. At the 

 time we visited the Daitcho, she was perhaps forty 

 years of age. She frequently came to our camp, 

 always bringing with her a small present, in return 

 for which we loaded her with beads and bits of 

 coloured cloth. 



One day, while she was seated in our camp, I 

 called a Somali and asked him to speak to her in 

 his own tongue. Upon hearing Somali spoken, she 

 evinced every sign of mental excitement, became 

 speechless, and went away. It was not before some 

 days had passed that she returned. She explained 

 the excitement she had shown on the former visit by 

 saying that my people who had spoken to her had 

 used words of the Rendile language, and she was 

 convinced that I had Rendile in my caravan. 



This was most interesting to us, as it indicated 

 that the Somali were in some way akin to the Ren- 

 dile, or at least that their languages had a common 

 origin. We endeavoured to get as much information 

 from her in regard to the Rendile as possible; but 

 she was uncommunicative on this subject, and con- 

 tented herself by saying that they were a very great 

 tribe, very brave and very powerful. When asked if 

 she wished to return to her people, she shook her 

 head, and said that her interests were now all bound 

 up in the Daitcho. She was at least sure of a home 

 with the Daitcho; but among the Rendile a woman 



