APPENDIX 1 
351 
line of camels. Moving out to the front, flank, or rear, I blow the 
alarm whistle, and the men run out and sit down in line, facing the 
supposed enemy. A few of the worst shots should be told off per- 
manently, their duty being to stay among the camels and guard and 
look after them, so that the bulk of the men will be free to attack the 
enemy. This duty of holding camels in an emergency is not popular, 
and this will be an incentive to the men to try and shine at the target 
practices. 
The natural habit of Somalis when marching with a caravan is for 
the two or three camelmen who are required to lead the strings of 
camels to be with them, while the bulk of the men either lead the way 
or lag behind with the last camel. The camel makccdam should be 
among these, and whenever a camel falls or shifts its load it is Somali 
etiquette for every man near to run up to its assistance. It is not 
generally necessary, therefore, except in very disturbed country, to tell 
off a rearguard, and I do not believe in constantly worrying tired men 
with theories when things are practically going on well. 
In very disturbed country it is advisable to make only one long 
march in the morning, and devote the afternoon to fortifying the camp 
with a good zeriba. While it is still daylight every man should be 
shown his place in case of a night alarm, and at dusk, having first 
given notice to the men, the alarm whistle should be blown, and they 
should jump to their places and then be dispersed. When night falls 
it is the duty of the headman to see the watch-tires lit and to post the 
sentry or sentries required. The fires should be outside the zeriba, and 
screened by it, or by a bush, from the eyes of the sentry. If the glare 
of the fire is in his face he will not be able to see out into the 
darkness. 
The relief of sentries, and all arrangements connected with them, 
are best left to the headman. I found that Somalis, once posted, as a 
rule make very faithful and reliable sentries. The usual challenge is, 
“ War kuma'f” (Who’s there ?) 
By day it is not usually necessary to keep a sentry, but there are 
two occasions when Somalis are particularly off their guard. First, at 
about 8 p.m., if they are grouped together eating camel-meat and 
shouting to one another, so that nothing else can be heard ; secondly, 
between 1 and 2 p.m., when they are generally all asleep, scattered 
under the shade of different trees outside the camp. If I had the 
conduct of an attack on Somalis, I should choose one of these occasions 
for effecting a surprise. 
The zeriba can be arranged in many ways, the principle being that 
it should be low enough to fire over and wide enough to prevent a 
rush. The zeriba of the Somali nomads, which is often twelve feet 
high, shuts out all view of the outside ground, and is only a trap for 
men armed with rifles. From four to five feet high and twelve feet 
wide is a good zeriba. The great difficulty is where to place the camels, 
and Somalis are prejudiced in favour of a circular zeriba with the camels 
occupying the centre, which would not, I should say, be the European way. 
When the camels are out grazing, or a few are sent with empty casks to 
a distant well, enough men with fire-arms should be with them to defend 
them, if necessary, and one man should be placed in command. 
It often occurs in bush country that men lose themselves and 
