the olden times, and passed me, marching in martial
order in the centre of a double line of men sloping
their spears in bristling array over their shoulders, all
keeping step in slow marching order, a scene evidently
got up in imitation of our soldiers. Not a word was
spoken, and the deepest solemnity prevailed. On his
arrival in front of the fort, I drew up my men, and
fired a salute to give him welcome. This was done in
right good earnest, by every man cramming his gun
with po wder, to excel his neighbour in a loud report,
to show the superiority of his weapon; for such is the
black man’s notions of excellence in a fowling-piece.
The march concluded, the sultan with his followers
all huddled together and squatted on the ground outside
the second fort, deeply agitated, and not knowing
what to do, as they evidently dreaded what might follow.
To dissipate their fears, I approached his royalty,
salaamed, and tried to beguile the time by engaging
them in conversation.
Finding that this had rather the opposite effect, I
then retired, and soon found them all intently wrapped
up in prayer, prostrating and rising by turns, with
uplifted hands, and muttering for hours together without
cessation. I then ordered a regal repast to be
served them of rice swimming in ghee, and dates ad
libitum. This, notwithstanding their alarm, was despatched
with the most marvellous rapacity, to such
gaily-coloured edges; by the men it is -worn loosely round the body with,
the end thrown over the shoulder, very much like the Roman toga.
The women gather it in folds round the waist, where it is confined by a
string, and both ends are fastened in a knot across the breast.
an alarming extent, that I required to know how many
men were engaged in eating it. The Abban replied
that there were only a few: he would not allow many
to come over here out of a spirit of economy, knowing
I had not much property to spare, though all the rest
had wished to come, and were greatly disappointed.
But these men, as is usual amongst Somali, had prepared
themselves for a feast by several days’ previous
fasting, and each man would, if J allowed
it, swallow at one meal as much as a sheep’s skin
could contain. As a gun is known by the loudness
I of its report, and ability to stand a large discharge
of powder, to be of good quality, so is a man’s power
|: gauged by his capacity of devouring food; it is
[ considered a feat of superiority to. surpass another
I in eating.
I I have seen a Somali myself when half-starved by
■ong fasting, and his stomach drawn in, sit down to a
Barge skinful of milk, and drink away without drawing
»reath until it was quite empty, and it was easy to
ftbserve his stomach swelling out in exact proportion
|as the skm of liquor decreased. They are perfect
Bogs m this fashion. I may here add, that although
F n this speech seemed to show so much
|onsideration for my property, by several recent tricks
» his I entertained much suspicion of his honesty
and this little address, though uttered plausibly, was
F 0 C1°mmon and transparent a trick in the East to
» g u ile me. All Orientals have a proverbial habit of
saving their master’s property to leave greater pickings