Chapter II: The Nomadic Life

Varieties of camel—Somáli camel willing and gentle—Method
of loading camels—On the march—Weight of loads—Marching
hours—Scourges, gadflies, ticks, and leeches—Firing
camels—Sore back—Camel food—Grazing customs—Breeding habits
of Somáli camels—The milk-supply of she-camels—Description
of Somáli ponies—Fodder—Ticks—Donkeys—Their usefulness
in Somáliland—Cattle—Cow’s milk—Ghee—Hides exported to
America—Sheep and goats—Powers of subsisting without
water—Camel meat and mutton the favourite meal of
Somális—The annual movements of trading caravans governed by
seasons—Duration of seasons—Great heat—Movements of the nomad
tribes—Caravan marauders—Tribal fights—Gangs of highway
robbers—Methods of the raiders—English scheme of protection
popular—Trade greatly injured through insecurity of routes—A
peculiarity of the Somáli guide—Mysterious strangers—Remarkable
faculties of adaptability in the Somáli—Baneful effect of
civilisation 29-44

CHAPTER III

BIG GAME SHOOTING, 1887

Start from Berbera—The first koodoo—First herd of elephants
seen; elephant bagged with a single shot—Fresh start
with another caravan—Waller’s gazelle bagged—Mandeira;
delightful headquarters—The Issutugan river—Herd of elephants
found—Elephant hunt at Jalélo, and death of a large bull—Our
night camp—Camp at Sobát—Elephants heard trumpeting at
night—Interesting scene; a herd of sixty elephants—Two
elephants bagged—Camp at Hembeweina; lions round camp—A herd of
elephants in the Jalélo reeds—Long and unsuccessful hunt—Tusks
stolen by a caravan—Lions roaring round the Hembeweina camp at
night—Visit of Shiré Shirmáki and thirty horsemen—Interesting
scene—A row in camp—News of a solitary bull at Eil
Danan—Exciting hunt; horsemen manœuvring a vicious elephant,
and death of the bull—Return to Berbera 45-76