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SHEEP. 



favoured brethren of Aden and Maskat, keep 

 cattle for religious purposes, never sell their 

 beasts, and energetically oppose their being 

 slaughtered. Bullocks cost from $8 to $16, 

 and are generally to be bought. 



Sheep are principally the black-faced Somali, 

 with short round knotted tails, which lose fat 

 from rich grazing : in their own desert country 

 they thrive upon an occasional blade of grass 

 growing between the stones. The excessive 

 purity of the air doubtless favours assimilation 

 and digestion, and as the diet of the desert Arabs 

 proves, life under such circumstances can be sup- 

 ported by a minimum of food. I believe that in 

 early times the Persians introduced this animal 

 into Somali and Galla-land. The Wakwafi, who 

 are rich in black cattle, contemptuously call 

 their Galla neighbours 6 Esikirieshi,' or ' short- 

 tailed sheep,' from the article forming their only 

 wealth. The Somali muttons are the cheapest, 

 averaging from $1 to $3. There is also a 

 ' Mrima 5 race, with rufous ginger - coloured, 

 hairy coats, and lank tails like dogs : others, 

 again, have a long, massive caudal appendage 

 like Syrian or Cape wethers. These cost $2 to 

 $5, and are considered a superior article. The 

 most expensive are from the Island of Angazfjah, 



