CHAP. VII 



TRAVELS m EASTERN AFRICA 



We were much puzzled to determine the race of 

 the Rendiie. According to my Somah, their language 

 was somewhat akin to Somali ; but they also used 

 many Galla words. In colour they were lighter than 

 most Somali, and then, 

 how could we account for 

 the blue eyes ? 



All of the men were 

 mutilated in an extraordi- 

 nary manner — their navels Jf^ 

 had been cut out, leaving 

 a small round hole. All 

 Rendiie have this marking ; 

 and with but one exception, 

 so far as I know, it is con- 

 fined to that tribe. This 

 exception is the people who 

 inhabit the country lying 

 to the north of Lake Ste- 

 phanie, called Marie. The 

 Marie are very probably an 

 offshoot of the Rendiie, 

 who became tired of wan- 

 dering, and so settled down. 

 With the Rendiie we found several people who said 

 they were Marie. They appeared in every way similar 

 to the Rendiie, but said that some of their customs 

 differed ; for example, they eschewed all flesh but that 

 of sheep. We repeatedly asked them if they were not 

 in some way related to the Somali ; but the idea seemed 

 to anger them. They shook their heads vigorously, 

 and said : " The Somali are our enemies." 



