90 
THROUGH SOMALILAND AND ABYSSINIA chap. 
looted. They also declared that we were the first Europeans 
in this country, and denied all knowledge of some Italians who 
were reported to have already come to Bur Dab. Here we met 
gum-pickers, wandering about the jungle, collecting gum in sacks. 
The Arasama, to whom we had given presents at Daba-Dal61, 
followed us through the Ain Valley, giving great annoyance by 
loud-voiced demands for more. Wherever we halted we were 
at once surrounded by a crowd of elders, clamouring for tobes. 
They were dragged from hand to hand, with a chorus of angry 
shouts, the bald-headed old chiefs looking like human vultures. 
""t We halted at a steep, flat-topped hill called Kabr Og&den, or 
the Og&den graves, where a great Qg&den army once perished 
at the hands of the Dolbahanta. The whole country was dotted 
with G&lla cairns, one of these curious structures being visible 
on every hilltop. From the summit of the hill we got a splendid 
view of the broad Nogal Valley, and chose our theodolite station 
at a Galla cairn on the highest point. 
Next day, followed by the Arasama headmen, still clamouring 
for tobes, we marched to their great watering-place, Eil Dab 
(rocky well). The tribe was here in strength, with enormous 
droves of camels and ponies and flocks of sheep. For a mile 
round the wells there were clouds of dust, kicked up by the 
thirsty animals. The water in the wells, which are caves in 
gypsum rock, was very foul. Vulturine guinea-fowl abounded. 
We marched due south, crossing to the south side of the Nogal, 
but could not shake off the Arasama, who followed us on their 
ponies, continually demanding presents and refusing to be 
satisfied with what we gave. One old chief presented us with 
a sheep, but not liking my return present of two tobes, he crept 
into our zerfba at night and stole his sheep back, while a friend 
of his engaged the attention of our sentry. 
At our Biyo Ado camp more elders from other tribes joined 
the Arasama, and while E and I were up the hill with the 
theodolite, they issued forth and looted some camels of the 
Allegiri tribe which were seen passing four miles out on the 
plain. They also took three men prisoners, but we eventually 
forced them to release both camels and prisoners. The Allegiri 
brought us news of a fight between the Arasama and Barkad 
Gerdd on one side and Mahamud Gerad on the other, in which 
the latter were successful. 
Next day, while we were away watering our ponies, the 
Arasama issued from our camp, and chasing two Allegiri, whom 
