TROUBLESOME FOLLOWERS 
obtain than the ‘ owl,’ owing probably to its frequenting 
thick bush, whereas the ‘ owl ’ likes the open plains. The 
result is that one gets closer, perhaps, to gerenook owing to 
the thick cover, but the shots at him are hurried, as he 
is almost always either partly covered by bush, so that one 
cannot see him distinctly, or he is trotting off, giving snap- 
shots only. The ' owl,’ on the contrary, although in the 
open, and often a long way off, offers a better chance, as 
one can generally see him well and take plenty of time 
with a long, steady aim, sitting down, as he walks slowly or 
stands broadside on, staring at you, at 200 yards. 
We pitched camp at 9.15 a.m., when two of my men 
picked a quarrel with the headman, saying that he had not 
given them their proper rations, and threatening to shoot 
the ‘ old full ’ (fool). They both came and stated their 
grievances ; the headman came next with an entirely dif- 
ferent story, followed by the whole gang, who quarrelled, 
jabbered and gesticulated till I wished them all at the 
devil. I have taken shikaris and followers in Egypt, 
Ceylon, India, the Malay Peninsula, China and Japau, 
but never have I come across such detestable people as 
the Somalis. Verily they beat all other black people for 
cowardice, treachery, deceit and cunning. At length I 
settled their disputes, and they left me in quiet, if not in 
peace of mind, to go and jabber on among themselves. 
In case of a murder, I was debating within myself 
whether I should shoot the murderer and save a lot of 
trouble, or should I be expected to send him bound 300 
miles back to the coast under an escort, when he would 
probably escape or bribe his captors to set him free. All 
the afternoon we marched through uninteresting thorn- 
jungle, seeing a few gerenook, and pitched camp for the 
night at 5.15 p.m. 
Next morning I was off at 4.30. Oh, how tired I 
was getting out of the inevitable thick bush, where you 
can see barely 100 yards before you, and where your 
face, hands and clothes get so torn by the thorn bushes ! 
