TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 33 
know how I was meant to be able to get along without 
it, but I suppose he didn’t think that mattered. 
It was then that Clarence, who had, I believe, been 
yearning to ask all along, wanted to know if I was any 
good with a rifle, and the other Mem-sahib could she 
shoot, and if so how had we learned, for the Somalis 
are nothing if not direct. They rather remind me of 
English North-country people, with their outspoken 
inquisitiveness, which is at home always regarded as 
such charming straightforwardness of character. 
I was as modest as I could be under the circum- 
stances, but I had to allay any fears the man might be 
harbouring. Besides, it is not well to under-estimate 
oneself, especially to a Somali. Nowadays everywhere 
it is the thing to remove the bushel from one’s light 
and to make it glare in all men’s eyes. My advice to 
any one who wants to be heard of is— Advertise, adver- 
tise, advertise. If you begin by having a great opinion 
of yourself and talk about it long enough, you generally 
end by being great in the opinion of everyone else. I 
told our shikari I had the use of my uncle’s fine range 
at home, and the advantage of what sport there was 
to be had in England and Scotland. Also that this 
was not our first expedition. The knowledge of all 
this and my unbounded confidence, not to say cheek, 
set all doubts at rest. 
Every night I was rendered desperate by the scratch- 
ing in my room of some little rodent which thundered 
about the floor as though his feet were shod with iron. 
Hurrah ! At last I had him ! He stole my biscuits 
set for my “ chota hazari,” and sometimes left me 
c 
