1 6 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
which was, I need hardly tell you, “ a most unmitigated 
misstatement.” 
Aden was reached at last — 44 The coal hole of the 
East.” As a health resort, I cannot conscientiously 
recommend it. The heat was overwhelming, and the 
local Hotel Ritz sadly wanting in some things and 
overdone in others. We found it necessary to spend 
some days there and many sleepless nights, pursuing 
during the latter the big game in our bedrooms. 
4 4 Keating’s ” was of no use. I believe the local insects 
were case-hardened veterans, and rather liked the 
powder than otherwise. What nights we had ! But 
every one was in like case, for from all over the house 
came the sound of slippers banging and much scuffling, 
and from the room opposite to mine language con- 
signing all insects, the Aden variety in particular, to 
some even warmer place. 
In some ways the hotel was more than up to date. 
Nothing so ordinary as a mere common or garden 
bell in one’s room. Instead, a sort of dial, like the 
face of a clock, with every conceivable want written 
round it, from a great desire to meet the manager to 
a wish to call out the local Fire Brigade. You turned 
on a small steel finger to point at your particular 
requirement, rang a bell — et voila ! It seems mere 
carping to state that the matter ended with voild. 
The dials were there, you might ring if you liked — 
what more do you want ? Some day some one will 
answer. Meanwhile, one can always shout. 
We met two other shooting parties at our auberge. 
The first comprised a man and his elderly wife who 
