136 Stray Leaves from a Note Book. 
during the mutiny in which he lost his Hfe; some of his belong- 
ings have been recovered and are filtering through at intervals — 
there are some most interesting" photos, some of which will 
figure in future issues, even if we have to use some without 
titles— Ed,] 
In Somaliland : Somaliland is not a land in which I 
should care to spend my life, although, like most places on this 
earth, there are any amount of things to interest anyone who has 
eyes and ears for nature. 
Berbera is the chief town, and, viewed from the sea, is 
very picturesque. It has a natural harbour formed by a long 
breakwater of sand, and on entering the bay or lagoon formed 
by this the town can be seen to the best advantage. The clear 
tropical air allows objects to be seen at long distances. 
Here, then, is a word picture of Berbera as viewed from 
the sea. A foreground of water, and beyond that the town, 
which is divided into two parts, each possessing a small landing 
stage. Un the right is the European quarter, consisting ot 
white stone houses and looking restfully fresh with the brilliant 
green trees — palms and others which are carefully tended and 
watered daily. A hard sandy road connects the European with 
the native town. The native dwellings are of two kinds : the 
white buildings of the Arabs, and the stick and matting struc- 
tures of the Somali. Behind Berbera are sandy planes, on which 
the tropical sun beats down pitilessly. In the background rise 
lofty and desolate mountains. That was my first picture of 
Berbera. As soon as a ship arrives, natives put off in canoes 
for the purpose of selling fish, which team in these waters; odd 
monkeys, eggs, pigeons, etc. These natives are expert divers, 
and get quite a respectable number of annas, which the men on 
the vessels throw over, to be cleverly caught by the diving 
natives at varying depths. Very few coins get lost, either, be it 
said. It doesn't take long to reach the shore in a boat. On 
the way I was strongly tempted to emulate the natives and 
indulge in a swim, but the fins of a shark or two protruding from 
the water proved a sufilcient deterrent. 1 felt it was better to 
bear the ill I had than fly to others which would certainly be 
worse I So I remained safely in the boat, discreet and hot ! 
