TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 153 
a pot of marmalade. They ate away to their hearts’ 
content, for no human being thought of going in and 
interfering ; but the brainy Clarence put some sugar 
in their official residence, and the counter attraction 
caused them to return. 
There was a strong moon now, so magical that it 
set all the jackals for miles around a-baying and 
a-barking, and nearly distracted us whose vocal 
chords were not so susceptible. What this mysterious 
influence on the canine genus is no man can tell, but 
it had the effect of making me rouse some of the men 
to eject rocks at the offenders. The worship of Astarte 
was all very well in olden days, but the manner of it 
in Somaliland was intolerable. 
A quaint insect made a loud tapping noise in the 
roof of my tent — probably his love signal. I tried to 
see him, but he hid from the light. Altogether I had 
a wakeful time. 
I watched some weavers building next morning as I 
strolled about, the while the parody of a cook struggled 
with the kettle, which seemed unable to boil. It really 
was very wonderful and astonishing. They snip off 
the threads of grass with their beaks, and actually tie 
knots, half-hitches. It was rather late for building, 
but the cock birds of this species, sensible little things, 
sometimes make nests for roosting purposes. 
Whydah birds were flying about in large numbers. 
They have crimson bodies, black wings and tails 
about two feet long, which hamper them so in flight 
they can only lollop along. I pursued one, and could 
have caught it had I wished. They are finches, and 
