6 
TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
sesames we were enabled to traverse the country in 
almost any part, and would have been passed from 
Mullah to Sheik, from Sheik to Mullah, had we not 
taken excellent care to avoid, as far as we could, the 
settled districts where these gentry reside. At one 
time all the parts we shot over were free areas, and 
open to any sportsman who cared to take on the 
possible dangers of penetrating the far interior of 
Somaliland, but now the hunting is very limited and 
prescribed. We were singularly fortunate, and owe 
our surprising good luck to that much maligned, 
useful, impossible to do without passport to everything 
worth having known as “ influence.” 
The tents we meant to use on the shoot were made 
for us to a pattern supplied. They were fitted with 
poles of bamboo, of which we had one to spare in 
case of emergencies. The ropes, by particular request, 
were of cotton, in contradistinction to hemp, which 
stretches so abominably. 
Two skinning knives were provided, and some little 
whet-stones, an axe, a bill-hook, two hammers, a screw- 
driver — my vade mecum — nails, and many other need- 
ful articles. We trusted to getting a good many 
things at Berbera, but did not like to leave everything 
to the last. Our “ canned goods ” and all necessaries 
in the food line we got at the Army and Navy Stores. 
Field-glasses, compasses, and a good telescope our 
generous relative contributed. 
They say that the best leather never leaves London, 
that there only can the best boots be had. This 
is as may be. Anyway the shooting boots made for 
