162 
THROUGH SOMALILAND AND ABYSSINIA chap. 
The Gerhd was slightly built, and had the intelligent face and 
well-cut features of the best kind of Somhli, a great contrast to 
the coarse-featured soldiers who were allowed to hector over 
him. Despite his old, worn-out tobe he still looked dignified. 
Before the arrival of these Abyssinians, who came into the 
Bertiri country like a swarm of locusts when they took Harar, 
the Gerhd had been a man of some repute. But the Abyssinians 
took away all his power, and he is now of little consequence. 
My intercourse with Banaguse depended on several inter- 
preters ; he spoke Amliaric to Gabratagli, who passed it on to 
my interpreter, Ad an Yusuf, in Arabic, and the latter translated 
into Hindustani for my benefit. By the time a sentence reached 
me Banaguse was thinking of something else, so we did not make 
much progress. 
The Abyssinians preferred tea to coffee ; and I noticed 
Banaguse rather craned at his cup, and handed it to a friend 
first, suspecting poison. But my headman, Adan Yusuf, full 
of tact, said quietly, “ Mafish khoff” (No fear), and giving a 
short laugh, he took a long draught from the cup, and filled it 
again for the great man. 
On 9th March, in the early morning, Banaguse sent over 
Abadigal to say he was leaving for Gojar, and requesting that 
I would visit him in the stockade ; so posting a sentry in camp 
I took nineteen of the men in line, rode across the valley, and 
drew up at the Abyssinian zerfba. Leaving most of the men 
outside I entered with four, passing a sentry who saluted me 
by presenting arms in Abyssinian fashion ; and walking across 
the zerfba I entered Banaguse’s hut. Here I found his notables 
assembled, all seated on the ground. I was invited to take my 
place on a raised platform with Banaguse, while Adan Yusuf and 
the other interpreters squatted in front. Banaguse was polite, 
but having little to say, he left Gabratagli to do all the talking. 
After a somewhat embarrassing leave-taking I trotted back 
to camp on my camel, and Banaguse issued from the stockade ; 
and, followed by his army, marched over the plain towards 
Gojar. Looking with my telescope from camp an hour later, 
I made them out in the far distance, and it was pleasant to 
have seen the last of them. 
I was glad to halt at Jig-Jiga for a few days, as the plains 
were dotted over with game. My men were a thoroughly good 
lot of fellows, and I was particularly pleased with the way in 
which they enabled me to show a bold front to Banaguse. 
