as it was impossible for him not to be cognisant of
tbe transaction. He said be did not tben know wbo
bad stolen them, but I might rest satisfied be would
find out by tbe morning, and tbey should be returned
intact. He assured me be was lord of all be surveyed,
and bis power was infinite witbin tbe limits of bis
clan. Tbe same nigbt be brought back tbe pony, and
said be would produce tbe camel in tbe morning. I
believed be bad played this trick himself to show tbe
effect of bis power, and so did tbe Balyuz; but be
said be bad been obliged to pay ten dollars to tbe
thief before be would give it up. I now demanded be
would produce tbe thief for trial, suspecting that thief
to be himself, but be said be could not. This reply
made the Balyuz knowingly cock bis eye. Tbe next
day, as tbe camel did not come by noon, I wrote a
letter to Aden reporting tbe circumstance, and begging
some retribution would be taken from tbe Akil, as
it was obvious to any man wbo knows these savages,
that Abdie could not have been ignorant of one single
feature in tbe whole of these transactions. Though
tbe loss was small, I did not think it of little importance,
as it remained a precedent, if overlooked, for tbe
committal of greater deeds; and tbe place, being a
port, was open to tbe exaction by blockade of any
fines—which, without doubt, is tbe true way to make
Somali feel.
During that day and tbe succeeding one we travelled
along the coast to Siyareb, a small dilapidated
fort,* standing alone without any other habitation, as
if only intended for a traveller’s, lodge. Near it was
an old well, said to be of antique construction, sunk
by tbe former occupants of tbe land. As we increased
our distance westwards, tbe maritime plain also enlarged,
and was bounded to tbe southwards by small
irregularly-disposed hills, all brown and dreary-looking
as before. To judge from tbe quantity of vegetation,
it would appear that water is nearer tbe surface
here than elsewhere, though there was none of any
importance to be seen. These few marches, slight as
tbey were, served to prove tbe stamina of tbe soldiers,
and showed tbe Seedis to have twice tbe heart and
bottom of tbe Egyptians, wbo succumbed at once to
tbe influences of tbe sun and fatigue of marching.
3d Ap ril.—Tbe caravan broke ground at 2 A.M.,
and, after travelling over much tbe same ground as
yesterday, nearly tbe whole day long without passing
a single habitation, arrived in tbe evening at
Berbera. Here I was warmly met by my companions,
Herne and Stroyan, and began again a social
life of great enjoyment. Berbera was in tbe plenitude
* Siyareh, a fort and small village belonging to the Makahil branch
of the Habr Awel, is the watering-place of Berbera, and derives a small
revenue from the boats which touch there en route to, and returning
from, the Berbera fair. During this year it attained an unenviable
notoriety as the rendezvous for the slaves intended for export to the
Persian Gulf. Many of these were free Somali girls, sold by their
relatives or kidnapped by their friends. Colonel Playfair wrote to me
that one hundred and forty boys and girls were rescued here in the early
part of this year by H. M. S. Lady Canning.