OCR Text |
Show 6 MR. C. V. A. PEEL AND OTHERS ON [Jan.23, (Second expedition. June 5th to October 29th, 1897.) Being anxious to continue my researches in the Natural History of Somaliland, and if possible to cross the Ganana Biver and explore Lake Budolph, I set out from Berbera again in 1897, accompanied by Mr. J. Beuett-Stanford, F.Z.S., and his wife. W e took with us a very large caravan of camels and escort. We crossed the great Gulis Bange of mountains by the Gerato Pass, and encamping at Lehello, there awaited more camels, which were being bought for us in Berbera. Lehello lay in stony ground by the everlasting dried-up river-bed. Here insect-life was fairly abundant, as will be seen from a perusal of the subsequent parts of this memoir. W e removed next to the Toyo Plain, a vast open space devoid of trees, and then crossing the waterless Hand District reached the wells of Farfanyer in Ogaden. Here we were overtaken by a messenger from the political officer at the coast, forbidding us to go to the Ganana Biver, as the Somalis were reported to be fighting the Abyssinians there. This was a great disappointment to us, after getting together such a large caravan and escort. At Farfanyer we fell in with a great number of Somalis armed with rifles, which they had looted from the Abyssinians, whom they had .defeated in two battles on the Webbi Shebeyli. At Farfanyer Mr. and Mrs. Stanford stayed, looking for rhinoceros, whilst I, with m y separate caravan, went in search of a reported lion. Eventually I lost the Stanfords altogether, and although I sent guides to look for them, it was of no use, owing to the denseness of the bush. I had a very bad attack of fever, and after waiting for over a fortnight to try and get news of my friends, or to get a guide to take m e back, I was obliged to give it up and march on alone. Hearing of elephants in the Mai-ehan and Haweea Countries, I determined to explore this little-known territory, and so marched across the great Marehan Desert and reached Habr Heshi, where we at length found water. Here I shot a fine lion which charged me, but I managed by great good luck to stop the animal when it was within a few yards. After leaving Habr Heshi we encountered stony barren country, and pitched camp at Sinnadogho in the Haw eea country, where there were fresh tracks of elephants. Here the natives were extremely troublesome, and 1 had a very anxious time. Several of my rilles, cloth for barter, and a pony were looted from me, and my followers were frequently attacked. I marched to Joh, the furthest point south-east I was destined to reach. W e were then about six days' distance from the east coast. Finding no elephants, I went on to Kadea, looting on the way a pony in exchange for the one taken from me. Upwards of five hundred armed men made their appearance at this point, and I thought we were in for a big figbt, some of the young men dancing themselves into a perfect frenzy. I was obliged to fire over their h<->ads, to keep them from looting my camels. They succeeded, however, in stealing some |