Dulbahantas; but although the northerners declare themselves
independent, the chief of the south still fights for his lawful
rights, and at this present time had driven the northerners, with all
their cattle and stock, to Jid Ali Tug, the next valley beyond this,
which I was now desirous of visiting. Ali Haram was an old man, and
consequently incapacitated from taking an active part in these
tumultuous filibusterings; he had therefore, since his first accession
to power, deputed a son called Mahamed Ali Gerad to act as Regent in
his stead, and this was the man of whom the Warsingali spoke to me at
Bunder Gori so disparagingly.

21st.--I was now preparing to start again westward, when an order came
from the Abban to my men, that no property should accompany me,
excepting what little I felt disposed to part with in presents to the
Dulbahantas; as an Akil, by name Husayn Hadji, the senior man present
at Jid Ali, had decided, as a final measure, on seizing everything I
brought with me immediately I set foot in Jid Ali. Though I had had
experience enough of the Abban's tricks to see that this was merely a
farce, though a very useless and inconvenient one, I permitted the
arrangement rather than make a row and retard my progress, and set out
with the young prince, Hamed, Farhan, and two camels and drivers,
leaving Imam and the other nine camels, with their drivers, behind, to
follow as soon as I should send back.

At the western extremity of the valley we came upon a small mound of
earth, all white and glistening, covered with nitre in an efflorescent
form, which shone so conspicuously in the sun, it could be seen at
many miles' distance; from the base of it a clear spring of water
trickled, so disagreeable in taste that no one, save Somali, could
possibly drink it. Now, emerging from the low land, we again left the