hyena, hut inclined rather more, in its general shape,
to a wolf than a hyena. The body was a pure black,
like the black Tibet wolf, but the tail was tipped with
white. I am not aware that this animal has ever been
described.
23c?.—At the usual starting-hour the Abban arrived,
with two ponies belonging to his brother-in-law,
Husayn Ali, but which he tried to pass off as his own,
being ever very anxious to make me believe he was
a large stock proprietor, to magnify his importance.
But, unfortunately for him, the interpreter, who was
as treacherous a man as any of the breed, although he
often confounded me by his innate deceit, also peached
at times upon his brother Sumunter. The Abban, on
seeing his mother equipped and ready on her donkey
to go with me, scolded her heartily for presuming to
undertake the journey without his leave, and sent her
home faster than she came. We now commenced the
march, and travelled five miles diagonally across some
low spurs of hills, and encamped in the evening in a
broad, deep, dry nullah, at a place called Dalmalle.
We brought water with us, and fortunate it was so,
for none could be found anywhere near the camp.
24 th.—We started early in the morning, ascending
the hill-range by a steep winding footpath up one of
its ridges, which, in respect to its barrenness and soil,
resembled the descent I had from Yafir. After completing
eleven miles’ march, the caravan crested the
hill opposite Bas* Gralweni, travelled a short way on
* Has means point or headland.
the flat of the summit, and encamped in the evening
amongst some thick jungle on its north or seaward
side, at a kraal called Gobamird
Immediately on arriving, as we commenced to unload
the camels, a number of men who were occupying
that district—the Urus Sagd section of the Habr
Grerhajis tribe—seized the camels by their heads, and
demanded their customary fees, at the same time boisterously
gesticulating that they would help themselves
if their request was not complied with. Farhan enjoyed
the row in the boisterous characteristic manner
of a Seedi—began dancing frantically the negro war-
dance, cocking his gun, and pointing it at everybody
by turns; whilst Sumunter and the other Warsingali
began thumping them with their clubs, and swearing
a fearful vengeance would be wrought upon them by
their tribe, who were living within an hour or two’s
call, should they not desist. The fact was, my men
knew their power here, and, guided only by animal
passions, enjoyed showing it. The poor discomfited
Urus Sagb now slunk off like defeated dogs, or schoolboys
returning from a fight, just wishing to know if
they were only to be considered in the light of women,
who could not maintain their own right, and, snarling
and snapping, threatened they would return again in
stronger force before the morning.
We then unloaded, and lay-to for the night. Immediately
on reaching the top of this range, a most
interesting and novel sight was presented to our view.
We stepped in one instant from constant sunshine