CHAPTER X. 
Fighting for meat — In the Abyssinian zareba — Elephants reported — Row 
in camp — We reach Hargaisa again — Forced marches through the 
desert — Arrival at the coast. 
Next day I was followed by a perfect multitude of half- 
starved men, women, and infants. When an animal fell 
the shouts and rush towards it can be imagined. They 
would then form themselves into a circle round my men 
who were engaged in skinning the dead animal, and often 
became quite a nuisance by hindering their occupation, 
jostling the operators in their anxiety to get the meat. 
I was obliged to draw a line round the skinners, and 
make the villagers understand that I would shoot any- 
one who dared to cross it. This generally kept them 
back, as they had a wholesome dread of my rifle, with 
which they had seen me kill an animal stone-dead at over 
200 yards. When we had taken the best of the meat 
for the camp-followers at home, and the head and skin, 
there was always .a mad rush upon the carcase by the crowd. 
What a sight it was ! The yells, the shouts, the curses, 
as each man with his huge dagger sought to cut off the 
biggest piece for himself I How they hacked at the car- 
case ! How they pushed and shoved each other back ! 
Every now and then a shriek would go up louder than the 
rest, as a man or boy received the sharp edge of another’s 
dagger on his knuckles, as he held a corner of the bleeding 
carcase. One man would seize a large piece of ribs and 
run away with it, when he would be tackled by others, who 
raced after him, reminding me of a game of ‘ Rugger ’ 
