in this matter as in all others of Somali fabrication.
There were five objects of attraction here:—1. The
ruins of a (said to be) Christian church; 2. The site
and remains of a village; 3. A hole in the ground,
denoting a lime-kiln; 4. A cemetery; and, 5. The
ground-lines of a fort. This certainly showed a degree
of advancement beyond what the Somali now enjoy,
inasmuch as they have no buildings in the interior,
though that does not say much for the ancients. The
plan of the church is an oblong square, 48 by 27 feet,
its length lying N.E. and S.W., whilst its breadth was
directed N. W. and S.E., which latter may be considered
its front and rear. In the centre of the N .¥ . wall
there was a niche, which evidently, if built by Christians,
was intended to point to Jerusalem; and this
might have been conclusive evidence of its having been
a Christian house of worship, and consequently of great
antiquity, did it not unfortunately point likewise in
the direction of Mecca, to which place all Mohammedans
turn when saying their prayers. Again, I entertained
some suspicion that the walls, which were in
some parts ten feet high, had not sufficient decay
to warrant their being four and a half or more centuries
old. But one thing was remarkable at this
present time there were no springs or any water
nearer than my camping place, which could not
have been the case when this place was occupied; but
it denoted a certain amount of antiquity, without any
doubt. The walls of the church were composed of
limestone rocks, cemented together with a very pure
white lime.
The entrance fronted the niche, and was led up to
by a street of round pebbles, protected on each side by
semicircular loosely-thrown-up stone walls. There
was nothing left of the village but its foundation outlines,
which at once showed simplicity of construction,
as well as economy of labour in building. I t lay about
50 yards to the east of the church. One straight wall
ran down the centre, from which, as supports, ran out
a number of lateral chambers lying at right angles
to it.
To the northward of the church was the cemetery,
in which, strange to say, if the Somali believe their
own story, they even at the present time bury their
dead, and erect crosses at the head of the tombs, in the
same manner as we Christians do. The kiln was an
artless hole in the ground, in which there was a large
collection of cinders, and other debris not worth mentioning.
Lastly, the fort, or rather remains of what
the Somali said had been one, was situated on an
eminence overlooking the village, and about 70 yards
to the S.W. of the church. Now, having completed
my investigations of the ruins, I returned to camp,
where I was met by the Abban, looking as sulky as a
bear with a sore head, and frowning diabolically. He
had been brooding over my late censures, and reflecting
on the consequences his bad conduct would finally
have upon him, if he could not obtain a pardon from