146 
THROUGH SOMALILAND AND ABYSSLNIA CH. v 
Zeila, to have a look at a palm-tree supposed to mark the 
boundary between the French and British spheres of influence. 
Here he had an amusing conversation in the pitch darkness with 
a French officer, who thought he was trying to break the cholera 
quarantine, the two parties of twenty men or so standing oppo- 
site each other under arms ; this awkwardness was followed by 
explanations, my brother expressing regret that, through long 
absence in the interior, he had no knowledge of the quarantine, 
and the Frenchman apologising for having received him en 
troupier under a misapprehension ; and there followed a pleasant 
breakfast with this official, who said he lived at Jibuti. 
A few days before reaching Zeila my brother’s caravan was 
struck down with sickness, caused by bad water, several men 
having to be left at Ambos police-hut, and many more coming 
into Zeila strapped on camels. I rode fifty miles on a very hot 
day, with a native Indian hospital assistant and medicines, in 
pursuit of my brother, but found he had come to Zeila by 
another route. Arriving at Zeila, we paid off the caravan and 
returned to Aden. This was the last trip made in company with 
my brother. 
