A large Somáli caravan, going to Berbera, took advantage of our escort to pass through the Eidegalla tribe with us. I found some interesting artificial pools in the Eidegalla Haud, and the natives told me that these had been dug out from time to time in honour of well-known Sultáns and elders who had died. I examined them, and was glad to find that they held water for many weeks after rain had fallen, a proof that the red Haud soil will hold rain-water in suitable places, and that tanks might be made on a larger scale.
As we came to the Eidegalla tribe, the men, women, and children ran away on first sighting us, thinking we were Abyssinians; but when they recognised us they were civil enough. On the evening of 3rd June we arrived at Syk fig-tree, near the top of the Jeráto Pass, which is sixty miles from Berbera, and leads from the high Ogo country down into Guban, the coast district. Coming down into the defile called Aff-ki-Jeráto next day, I met some Biladiers, or native irregular police, with my mail-bag, containing four months’ letters; and finding that, owing to my having received an extension, my leave would not expire immediately, I settled down steadily to hunt the large koodoo in the great Gólis Range, round Gán Libah, Henweina, and Garbadir.
On the look-out
Greater Koodoo (Strepsiceros Koodoo).
CHAPTER IX
THREE WEEKS’ KOODOO STALKING ON GOLIS RANGE, 1893
Our hunting camp in the mountains—The “Rock of the Seven Robbers”—Exciting koodoo hunt; death of a splendid koodoo—My shooting costume—Triumphant return to camp—Unsuccessful koodoo hunt—March to Henweina—Unsuccessful hunt after four bull koodoos—Bag a fine bull—A charming spot—Dog-faced baboons—Alarm note of the koodoo cow—Picturesque bivouac—Cedar-trees in Mirso—A leopard caught with a piece of rope and speared by the Somális—March to Armáleh Garbadir—The great Massleh Wein bull—Exciting hunt; success of the Martini; a glorious koodoo—Return to the coast.
We descended the Jeráto Pass to Mandeira on 4th June. This pass has since been improved by an engineer officer from Aden, and there is now a good road. Once caravans had the greatest difficulty in getting up or down the pass. On this day I divided the men and animals into two caravans, one-half to remain with me in the mountains, the other half to go to Berbera, where the men would be paid off and the camels sold.