266 
THROUGH SOMALILAND AND ABYSSDV/A CHAP. 
Hence the choice of my new hiding-place. I spread my bed on 
the flat top of the tree, fourteen feet from the ground. It was 
like a spring mattress, gently waving before a cool breeze ; and 
we slept beautifully most of the night, hung up in the air, with 
a brilliant canopy of stars above us and the mysterious sea of 
bush around us, with lions roaring frequently during the night. 
Next morning I was taken off on a “wild-goose chase” to a 
HEAD OF BAIRA ANTELOPE. (Shot by Lord Delamere.) 
karia six miles distant to the north, where a lioness had seized a 
small goat in sight of the karia people ; but the sheep and 
camels had since been driven over the tracks, and we lost her. 
I remained in camp on the 15th to let the skin of the lion 
dry, and again slept in the maclian three miles to the south of 
camp. The lions roared again ; for there were a pair of them, 
the voice of the lioness being easily distinguishable from that 
of her mate. They never came to the donkey, and a heavy 
thunderstorm drenching us and our bedding, we lit a lantern 
