3o8 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT chap. 



a measuring-stick. Eight such measurements usually 

 make about four yards. It was needless to explain 

 to them that we considered this price perfectly ludi- 

 crous. On the coast a donkey can be purchased for 

 i:en doty (forty yards) of drill, where drill was easily 

 procured, and where the owner of the donkey had 

 been to the expense of bringing his beast. Among 

 the entire tribe of these savages there was perhaps 

 not twenty yards of cloth ; yet they wished us to give 

 them half as much again as was asked at the coast. 



We then refused to trade. In order to impress 

 them we produced the red blankets, thinking we 

 should thereby excite their cupidity. We also spread 

 out before them some Scotch plaid shawls. The ap- 

 pearance of the latter they greeted with derisive 

 shouts, and Lomoro took one of them in his hand, 

 waved it above his head, and attracted to it the at- 

 tention of the assembled warriors outside the zeriba. 

 It seemed to madden them as a red rag does a bull. 

 After some questioning, we learned that the Rendile 

 loathed any colour but white — a most curious in- 

 stance ! for all negroes are notoriously fond of bright 

 colours. 



We had spent more than an hour in fruitless en- 

 deavour to arrive at some sort of trade with these people. 

 Each moment the assembled warriors outside our camp 

 grew more impatient ; and soon the air rang with 

 savage shouts. I thought they were about to attack 

 us ; and so I cjuietly went about among my men, and 

 told them to load their rihes, and place two extra 

 cartridges in their hands. The shouts grew loudei" 

 and louder ; when suddenly the Somali came to us. 



