150 
SOMALILAND 
out of the way. How glad I was to see the camp-fires at 
last' after that long day’s ride and disappointment ! I was 
hungry, too, not having tasted food for over fourteen hours. 
A very strong wind blew next morning, and, as we were 
pretty high, it was very cold. We marched north-east along 
the main caravan route between Berbera and ‘ big Harar ’ 
upon the open plain, but saw very little game. We had 
hardly pitched for the night, when a tremendous downpour 
of rain drove everyone under the camel-mats. The villagers 
soon rolled up, and I engaged fifteen men to scour the plain 
for lions next morning. 
To-day I found upon the plain enormous quantities of a 
curious caterpillar, which fed upon grass, and made a house 
round its own body of dead and dry bits of grass, its head 
and the first few segments of its body alone protruding 
from the house. On being disturbed, the head and segments 
of the body are quickly dravm into the grass house out of 
view, and nothing is then to be seen having any appearance 
of life. 
I also noticed quantities of the dung-beetle. Two of 
these fat little creatures will roll along a ball of dung four 
times their own size an incredible distance at a very fast 
rate. One will pull in front, going backwards, whilst the 
other, standing upon its hind-legs, will push the ball along 
with its fore-legs. Grasshoppers were exceedingly numerous 
around this place, which was called Wardi. 
Next morning, after seeing the fifteen lion-hunters off, I 
took a rest, as my feet were very sore after a week’s hard 
walking upon the plain. During the night a daring little 
jackal jumped into camp, and stole a whole sheep-skin, 
the sentries as usual being both fast asleep. No lion was 
reported, so I marched at 5 a.m. the next morning through 
open country and plains covered with a sprinkling of trees. 
