148 
THROUGH SOMALILAND AND ABYSSINIA chap. 
Ras Makunan’s invitation, received by me at Gildessa, might be 
very useful, because such a visit would ensure respectful treat- 
ment from any marauding Abyssinian soldiers whose path I might 
cross on my route to the Webbe. On the other hand, there was 
a chance that Ras Makunan might put obstacles in my way ; 
but as he would get news of my journey in any case, whether 
I went to Harar or not, I considered it best to visit him, and 
laying before him my project, trust in his intelligent co-operation. 
I thought, moreover, Harar would be an interesting place to 
visit, and I knew that RAs Makunan would be glad of such a 
chance of exchanging ideas with a British officer. I mentioned 
my project to the political authorities, who, though not in a 
position to use my services, kindly allowed me to go in from 
British ports. Eventually I started for Harar, armed with 
eighteen Snider carbines ; a letter of recommendation to “ all 
tribes whose countries I might pass through ” drawn up at the 
Residency, Aden ; a note to Ras Makunan from Signor Cecchi, 
the Italian Consul-General ; and a “ round robin ” in Arabic, 
from Sheikh Mattar of Hargeisa, to all the mullahs, widads, and 
chiefs of the Malingur and Rer Amaden SomMis, and of the 
Gerire G&llas beyond Ime. 
The caravan, which I got together at Berbera on this 
occasion, was the best equipped and manned that I have ever 
done work with. The men were twenty-four picked Somalis, 
all of whom had been under my command on many expeditions, 
and they were chosen from among some two hundred applicants 
for this particular trip. 
In Aden I bought three Arab trotting camels and at Berbera 
thirty-three Somali baggage camels. I engaged Adan Yusuf as 
caravan leader and interpreter, Geli and Hassan as hunters, 
Eaura Warsama as guide, a cook, butler, and eighteen camel- 
men — in all twenty-four men. 
To Adan Yusuf I lent a Martini-Henry carbine, my hunters 
carried my own spare big-game rifles, and the rest of the men 
carried two Martini and eighteen Snider carbines. I took one 
hundred and fifty rounds of ball ammunition per man, a box of 
buckshot cartridges, and a box of blank ones for firing salutes 
and signals, and for skirmishing drill. Fifty rounds per man of 
the ball ammunition I expended in Bulh&r and during the 
journey in field-firing at targets. 
Organising the caravan at Berbera, I marched to Bulhar, and 
there remained a week to drill the men and put them through 
