CHAP. IV 
GOVERNMENT EXPLORATIONS 
113 
of money, although they may have been given by an English- 
man who is a perfect stranger, at a distance of two hundred 
miles inland. The possession of a bit of paper written on in 
English is believed to guarantee the safety of the bearer’s life, 
and we have often been begged for scraps of paper by men 
who wished to go alone by a short cut through disturbed 
territory. 
The Somalis have no quarrel with the English ; even should 
a serious cause of dispute arise, there is far too much hereditary 
jealousy between tribe and tribe for them to combine. It is 
true the Esa caused trouble a few years ago by their raid on 
Bulh&r, but this raid was directed against the Habr Awal, 
and not against the British. The punishment which they 
received from us, by their own showing, turns out to have 
been greater than was at first supposed, and they now declare 
themselves to be our firm friends. 
In the surveying trips the opposition to our progress by the 
tribes was practically nil , unless the extreme avarice and rapacity 
for presents on the part of a few Dolbahanta chiefs may be 
called opposition. In fact, the only occasion on which I have 
been treated with the slightest want of cordiality by Somalis 
was on my second surveying trip in 1886 . 
I think there are three reasons why the British Government 
is so much respected in the interior of Somaliland. The first 
is undoubtedly the possession of Aden, about half the population 
of which is composed of Somalis, who return to their own 
country after a time and spread the fame of the Government 
far and wide. Also, a few Som&lis go to London as firemen 
in English steamers. Another reason for the rapid extension 
of British influence is the wise and impartial way in which our 
coast ports have been administered by experienced political 
officers from India. The third reason is constant contact with 
English sportsmen, who visit the Somali tribes in their own 
homes. 
i 
