[20] This Great Oath Suggests The Litholatry Of The Arabs, Derived From The Abyssinian And Galla Sabaeans; It Is Regarded By The Eesa And Gudabirsi Bedouins As Even More Binding Than The Popular Religious Adjurations.

When a suspected person denies his guilt, the judge places a stone before him, saying "Tabo!" (feel!); the liar will seldom dare to touch it.

Sometimes a Somali will take up a stone and say "Dagaha," (it is a stone,) he may then generally be believed.

[21] Kariyah is the Arabic word.

[22] In the northern country the water-proofing matter is, according to travellers, the juice of the Quolquol, a species of Euphorbium.

[23] The flies are always most troublesome where cows have been; kraals of goats and camels are comparatively free from the nuisance.

[24] Some years ago a French lady landed at Berberah: her white face, according to the End of Time, made every man hate his wife and every wife hate herself. I know not who the fair dame was: her charms and black silk dress, however, have made a lasting impression upon the Somali heart; from the coast to Harar she is still remembered with rapture.

[25] The Abyssinian Brindo of omophagean fame is not eaten by the Somal, who always boil, broil, or sun-dry their flesh. They have, however, no idea of keeping it, whereas the more civilised citizens of Harar hang their meat till tender.

[26] Whilst other animals have indigenous names, the horse throughout the Somali country retains the Arab appellation "Faras." This proves that the Somal, like their progenitors the Gallas, originally had no cavalry.

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