CHAPTER II 
THE NOMADIC LIFE 
Varieties of camels — Somali camel willing and gentle — Method of loading 
camels — On the march — Weight of loads — Marching hours — Scourges, 
gadflies, ticks, and leeches — Firing camels — Sore back — Camel food — 
Grazing customs — Breeding habits of Somali camels — The milk-supply of 
she-camels — Description of Somali ponies — Fodder — Ticks — Donkeys — 
Their usefulness in Somaliland — Cattle — Cow’s milk — Ghee — Hides 
exported to America — Sheep and goats — Powers of subsisting without 
water — Camel-meat and mutton the favourite meal of Somalis — The 
annual movements of trading caravans governed by seasons — Duration of 
seasons — Great heat — Movements of the nomad tribes — Caravan 
marauders — Tribal fights — Gangs of highway robbers — Methods of the 
raiders — English scheme of protection popular — Trade greatly injured 
through insecurity of routes — A peculiarity of the Somali guide — 
Mysterious strangers — Remarkable faculties of adaptability in the 
Somali — Baneful effect of civilisation. 
There appear to be two distinct varieties of camel in Somdli- 
land, — the Gel Ad, or white variety, sold mostly on the Berbera 
side ; and the Ayyun or dark Dankali one, which is common on 
the Zeila side. The Esa themselves admit the superiority of 
the Berbera camel, and offer a higher price for it. There are 
certain camels fattened for the butcher, which never carry loads. 
They can be recognised by their hairiness and the great develop- 
ment of the hump, but they are not, I believe, a distinct variety. 
Somdlis know their animals individually by name. A fine large 
camel may often be christened “ Marodi ” (elephant) ; another, 
noted for its pace, is sometimes flatteringly called “ Faras ” 
(horse). 
The Somdli camels, as contrasted with those of India, are 
willing and gentle ; and although whilst being laden they will 
generally complain, and make feints at biting, yet I have 
seldom knowrn them injure any one. In moving about the 
