202 
SOMALILAND 
which happened to be my shot-gun. Aiming for the 
animars neck, I fired. Hesult : a fine male dibitag stone- 
dead 30 yards off. I bore my first day’s march after my 
fever fairly well. At the mid-day rest we watered all the 
horses, and sent back all the empty liar an and barrels to be 
refilled, the men having instructions to march until they 
caught us up again, which they did shortly after midnight. 
Next day we passed some real hills (the Gabo range of 
mountains), and camped at Isor, upon a large open plain at 
the foot of the mountains. Here we tracked, unsuccess- 
fully, a leopard which was dragging a dik-dik along the 
ground. 
Next morning we marched at 3.30. I was so sleepy 
that I twice fell asleep in the saddle, and woke up to find 
the reins hanging loose upon my pony’s neck. Passing 
Berisodare, where I caught a glimpse of a cheetah or 
hunting leopard ; Jade, where there were shallow dried-up 
wells ; and Gorishor, where we passed hundreds upon 
hundreds of camels, sheep and goats, we at length 
reached a place called Habr Heshi, in the heart of 
the Marehan country, having been on the march for five 
and a half days without encountering a drop of water en 
route. At this place there had evidently been a large lake, 
but it was now all but dried up, a few shallow wells dug 
out by the natives holding the last few hams full. All 
round the lake were to be seen the fresh ' pugs ’ of a large 
lion, so we built two zarebas for him on arrival. Thousands 
of pigeons were here to be seen drinking. Brown birds flew 
about in coveys, and looked when on the wing not unlike 
partridges. These birds turned out to be sand-grouse. 
The natives seemed a bit troublesome, and twice we were 
obliged to seize the spears, shields, and knobkerries of men 
who threatened to kill some of my escort. 
At sunset, taking the donkey with me, I selected the 
zareba furthest away from the main camp and the noise of 
my caravan, and also because it was the larger of the two 
and would accommodate my bedding with more comfort. 
