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Ostrich-Riding of the Somali

OMALI LAND, by the women. He is courageous, brave and reports of Stanley, independent, but quarrelsome and deceit. Emin Pasha and ful, and opposed to all kinds of rule or Wissmann, has be- order. come quite well A French traveller says the only cultiknown and celebrated vated land in Somali is the buryingthroughout the civil- ground. Another explorer says the ized world. The Somali Somali boy when but seven years of age inhabit the easternmost is given a small javelin; he begs, borrows part of Africa. and steals until he becomes of age, and Most of the rivers of the then he continues begging, borrowing country have only water and stealing until he dies. during the rainy season, In the City of Berlin, Germany, the but, in spite of all this, the Zoological Garden has an annex for animals are numerous. The ethnological study; tribes of different waterbuck, different species of unknown nations are there with their antelopes and gazelles are seen tents, weapons, household utensils and in large herds; ostriches, zebras and wild domestic animals. A group of Somali donkeys, as well as giraffes, elephants, was recently brought there and invited the hippopotamus and the rhinoceros, are general attention. There are, in one corner found in great numbers, and the lion and leopard, the latter, growing to an astonishingly large size, cause great loss to the native nerdsmen. of an enclosure, several huts of matting, the women and children of the tribe being near by. Opposite were sitting, by a small fire, two sturdy blacksmiths busily The wearing apparel of the Somali at work. They are artificers, and as such consists of a large cloth, a belt and san- despised by the other Somali and are not dals, but sometimes jackets, trousers and permitted to participate in any of the the fez can be seen. Their weapons are tribe's war-like exercises. In another the lance, the javelin, the dagger, bow corner saddles for camels and horses were and arrows and the round shield made of piled, while warriors were standing and the skin of the giraffe or the rhinoceros. sitting by the heap, wrapped in their long The Somali leads a nomad life; he white sheets, conversing in their mother despises hand-work and considers robbery tongue. In the centre of the space noble and warfare as the sole dignified occupa- horses, swift-riding camels, small sheep tions. All work is performed by the with hanging ears, and hornless goats