200 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 
a couple of the native dyed blue and red khaili tobes 
to take home as souvenirs, so Clarence managed it for 
us by handing over two new white ones, a turban, 
and a couple of iron tent pegs. These last were great 
treasures, as they can be fashioned into spear heads. 
The throwing spear is a cruel barbed affair, but some are 
plain. Accurately pitched it is a deadly weapon, 
and the Somali as he throws gives the spear a smart 
knock on the palm of his hand, which conveys an 
odd trembling that keeps the shaft straight as it flies 
through the air. The spear blades take different 
shapes in the different tribes, but shields seem to be of 
uniform pattern-— of oryx, rhino, or other leather, 
made with a handle at the back. 
We did a short march in the evening and were spared 
the trouble of building a zareba, and like cuckoos? 
took up a place in a nest of some one’s making. It had 
been evacuated long enough to be fairly clean, and 
did us well with a little patching. Ant-hills around us 
were so numerous we seemed in the centre of some 
human settlement. That night a leopard entered our 
zareba and, regardless of the fires and the watch, 
clawed one of the ponies badly, being only driven off 
by having a rifle fired at him. Even at such close 
quarters the bullet found no billet, as there was no 
sign of the blood trail. We could clearly see the spot 
where our visitor entered ; the thorn was lower and 
weaker there. We decided to remain over the next 
night and try and catch him. I gave orders for some- 
body to ride back towards the camp of our dibaltig 
friends and, if possible, buy a goat for tying up. Mean- 
