huts, like those already described, and of the same
material as all Somali forts and huts. The kit was
now brought across and placed within the fort I occupied,
all except the salt, which afterwards proved a
bone of contention between me and the Abban, and
the sultan was at once sent for. No one could move
a yard inland, or purchase anything, without his
sanction being first obtained.
Although Gerad Mahamed Ali was living only
twenty miles distant from Goriat, it was not until
repeated messages had been sent to him, and eleven
days had elapsed, that he answered the summons by
his presence. In the meanwhile, having nothing
better to do during this tedious interval, as no people
would bring cattle or anything for sale, I took walks
about the plain, shooting, and killed a new variety of
gazelle, called Dera * by the Somali, and Salt’s antelopes,
here called Sagaro, which fortunately were very
abundant, though rather wild; catching fish, drawing
with the camera, bathing in the sea, luxuriating on
milk, dates, and rice, or talking and gossiping with
the natives.
On one occasion my interpreter came to me with a
mysterious air, and whispered in my ear that he knew
of some hidden treasures of vast amount, which had
been buried not far off, under rocky ground, in such a
way that nobody had been able to dig them up, and
he wished that I, being an Englishman, and conse-
* This gazelle is slightly different from the Dorcas, and, I believe,
has never been obtained before.
quently knowing secret arts, as well as hikmat (scientific
dodges), would direct how to search for these
treasures. By inquiring farther into the matter, it
appeared that an old man, a miser, who had been
hoarding all his life, was suddenly taken ill about forty
years ago, and feared he would die. Seeing this, his
relatives assembled round him, to ask his blessing; and
the old man, then fearing all his worldly exertions
would end to no good purpose, asked them to draw
near that he might tell them where his riches were
hidden; but even then he would not disclose the secret,
until he was in the last dying gasp, when he said, “Go
to a pathway lying between two trees, and stretch out
a walking-stick to the full length of your arm, and the
place where the end of your wand touches is that in
which my treasures are hidden.” The wretched man
then gave up the ghost, and his family commenced the
[¡search; but though they toiled hard for many days
and weeks, turning up the stones in every direction,
they never succeeded in finding the treasure, and had
now given up the search in despair. The fact was,
they omitted to ask their parent on which side of the
path it was concealed, and hence their discomfiture.
At my request the said family came to me, corroborated
the statements of the interpreter, and begged implor-
ingly I would direct them how to search for the money;
saying at the same time they would work again, if I
thought it of any use; and, moreover, they would give
me half if the search proved successful. I lent them
| some English pick-axes, and went to see the place,