TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 255 
consternation to the sheep as the appearance of the 
lion could have done. The man had to be followed 
by the necessary humanitarian inquiries, and we 
reflected that no lion with an ounce of caution about 
him would have failed to take warning long ere this. 
The rain had damped our ardour as well as our clothes. 
We voted for camp and bed. Cecily affixed the irons 
to her boots and descended, and then I pulled them 
up again for my use. Clarence got the rifles down, 
and the fallen hunter had no need to get any lower. 
There we all stood in pouring rain. Clarence had to 
lead the hunter who claimed to be badly injured, and 
Cecily and I led the sheep. 
The caravan was silent, fires out with the rain, but 
the watch was alert, for on our approach we heard, 
“ Kuma ? 55 (Who are you ?) repeated twice. Clarence 
replied “ Friends, 55 and we passed, and all was well 
— at least more or less, for the camp was in a dismal 
state of slop. A big rain-storm speedily turns the 
deep sand to mud. The men were sleeping beneath 
herios, and I think one or two had been making free 
with our tents, as they had a very hot native smell 
about them when we turned in to rid ourselves of our 
dripping garments. The canvas residences stood up 
well that night, and resisted the downpour valiantly. 
Everything was damp and fires were impossible. 
All the next day the deluge continued. It was no 
use to attempt to go a-hunting, as the rain was washing 
out spoor as fast as the animals walked. The day 
dragged through somehow, and bored us almost to 
tears. However, night saw a welcome cessation of 
