cerning the march of the Ugahden caravans, to gain an
insight into the market transactions of Berbera, and to
collect cattle for our final march, it was deemed advisable
he should go there. Stroyan, as soon as he
could manage it, was also to go to Berbera to assist
him. Thus everybody had a duty to perform during
this interregnum but myself.
Dreading the monotony of a station life, I now
volunteered to travel in any direction my commandant
might think proper to direct, and to any length of
time he might consider it advisable for me to be away.
This proposition had its effect, as affording an extra
opportunity of obtaining the knowledge desired, and
instructions were drawn up for my guidance. I
was to proceed to Bunder Gori, on the Warsingali
frontier, to penetrate the country southwards as far as
possible, passing over the maritime hill-range, and, turning
thence westwards, was to inspect the Wadi Nogal,
and march direct on Berbera, to meet Stroyan and
Herne, at a date not later than the 15th January 1855.
Whilst travelling I was to remark upon the watershed
of the country, plot the route I travelled, keep copious
notes on everything I saw, and collect specimens of
natural history in all its branches, as well as observe
and register all meteorological phenomena, and buy
camels and ponies for the great future expedition.
Funds for the expenses of this undertaking were not
available at that time from the public purse, as the
TnrHa.n Government had stipulated that the whole sum
they would advance for this great expedition should
not exceed £1000, and, for security’s sake, had decided
on paying it by instalments of £250 at a time. I therefore,
desirous to render as much assistance as lay
within my power to further the cause I had embarked
upon, volunteered to advance the necessary sum from
my own private resources, trusting to Lieutenant
Burton’s promises in the future for being repaid.
This project settled, I at once set to work, and commenced
laying in such stores as were necessary for an
outfit, whilst Lieutenant Burton, who had been long
resident in Aden, engaged two men to assist me on the
journey. The first was a man named Sumunter, who
ranked highly in his country, who was to be my Ahban
or protector. The duty of abbanship is of the greatest
importance, for it rests entirely on the Abban’s honesty
whether his client can succeed in doing anything in the
country he takes him through. Arabs, when travelling
under their protection, have to ask his permission for
anything they may wish to do, and cannot even make
a march, or purchase anything, without his sanction
being first obtained. The Abban introduces the person
under his protection to the chief of his clan, is
answerable for all outrages committed on the way, and
is the recognised go-between in all questions of dispute
or barter, and in every other fashion. The second
man was also a Warsingali,* by name Ahmed, who
knew a slight smattering of Hindustani, and acted as
* This proved a great mistake. By having hoth men. of the same
tribe for my entire dependence, they invariably acted in concert against
me like two brothers.