136 
SOMALILAND 
a large flock of ostriches, both old and young, I shot a 
couple of guinea-fowl for the pot, and at length, after an 
eight hours’ march, reached Bun Jiggiga, an enormous 
open plain bounded by high hills on the west, behind which 
lay the Abyssinian town of Harrar. Here I determined to 
remain for several days to rest, as we had been on the 
march for eleven days, during which time we must have 
traversed upwards of 200 miles, through a game -forsaken 
country. We encamped on the face of an incline, over- 
looking the great open plain, and sa^w below us a large 
encampment of Abyssinians, surrounded by a stockade. W e 
had been pitched but an hour, when some men I had sent to 
the wells with camels for water came running back, saying 
they had been attacked by Abyssinians. The latter had 
drawn their swords, rushed at them, and tried to prevent 
them from drinking. Daggers were drawn, and a hand- 
to-hand battle took place ; but, luckily, very little blood 
was shed on either side. That was the beginning of our 
stay at Jiggiga. 
Shortly after I saw the headman of the Abyssinians 
emerge from the stockade followed by a large escort. ‘ Now 
for it !’ I thought, as I bustled about, looking to the rifles 
and ammunition. But on their nearer approach I perceived 
that they came in peace, and not for war. 
The headman came into my tent and said ‘ Salaam ’ in a 
most pleasant manner. He said he was much annoyed at 
his men’s conduct, and was going to punish them. He said 
he was very glad to see me, and asked what I had come for, 
when I explained that my only object was to shoot big game 
upon the open plain. He told me I was quite welcome, and 
hoped I would stay a long time with him. He then took 
his departure, followed by his escort. 
‘ Well, that’s a bit of all-right,’ I said to myself on his 
departure. 
He had hardly got outside the zareba, when another 
terrific thunderstorm burst upon us, and before I could say 
‘ knife,’ a small river ran through my tent and wetted 
