266 
SOMALILAND 
pice,’ Pat interrupted him with, ' Sure, and whhat’s to 
hinder it V 
Next morning we loaded up before it was light, and on 
peering into the box in which I had placed the little caracal, 
I discovered that the animal had made good his escape, 
thanks to the carelessness of the man I had told off to look 
after it. He had not tied up the lid of the box tight 
enough. I was much annoyed at losing so rare an animal. 
I left three men behind to wait till dawn and hunt for it, 
but they followed ^ome hours after, saying that the jungle 
was so thick it was impossible to find it. 
After leaving the pass through the great mountains the 
going improved somewhat, and on reaching some big trees 
we camped. Looking back, the view of the great barrier 
of mountains was very imposing. The heat at twelve was 
very great. My camels had been going very badly all the 
morning, not having as yet recovered from their descent of 
Sheik Pass. About half of them walked bow-legged and 
very slowly. I saw that it would be impossible to get 
them all to Berbera in three more marches. So, as I 
wished to try and catch the steamer, which was expected 
in a day or two, I decided to take six of the best camels 
on with me, and leave my headman to bring on the halt 
as fast as he could. Accordingly, I started with my little 
caravan over some very rough ground under the broiling 
sun, with not a blade of green grass to be seen. We 
reached at last an oasis, a pool of water surrounded by 
magnificent green grass. I dismounted and let the pony 
feed, whilst I bathed my hot head. 
After a rest we reached a huge gorge, at the bottom of 
which our road lay along a ^ tug.’ Water was flowing in a 
tiny stream a foot wide, and every now and then as we 
marched it would disappear below the surface, to reappear 
further on. We passed some tall reeds in which lions used, 
once upon a time, to sleep. But, alas ! they were now 
asleep for ever. This country is called Guban (the hot 
country), a most appropriate name. When the sun set we 
