THE SOMALI LEVIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12255, 14 May 1903, Page 5

THE SOMALI LEVIES.

A corrospoiicleni with tho Bohotleh columji, . iv gomjaiilan'd gives a pic-r iburescfue ' account jot \he recruits dfa\rn by" the 'I Britisli ■froiii ,tlie frieWclly tribes; Th 6'". Stimuli, in. uniform on. "parade, we'are.'tokl; \ookp smart &ti<L serviceable \- -hfis, ainSfor^n is tliktjLnctly attractive; -befrig? composed c oi 'a- pair pf khaki "fdiorts.'' with a 'dull- green Jersey bver-<all<; $'tr nipjpeH with leather on both shQultlt-ra, • clark "bltJe. putties, Somali; -' ; shoes*/* and arvexl fez with jjlack tassel., <0n special occasions 'he wears akhakir blouse ;■ and ho carries the same 'arms atxcl aocouterements- as the Indian pftpoyf, thp 'beiiig ' the J303 with the, Eartf'i^ \ ( acUon. Off parade ' he ! is' wra^eYl in a^whJte V-tohe," which, , t'ogerfahpr w;tih jet, pair 6f Som'atf ; Shoe's, cot^p'risbs his" .sole covering, ami ha '* 1 c&rpcfr al'kmiflla I ' kmifll ihrowing spear. Ha is decidedly iri--telligont, "> a'n<l leat'hs-hi« 'drill with 1 great iacility," .CQnsklerina; rthat all the words of command are in; English, and fojs office^, dp not ; fipeajk the Somali tyn«so/ige. ,The "Whaki v fever has afteotefcl, oven, the., children,/ and it is not uncommon,, says .this corres-: poriclon^, to .sqe groups of .boys'armed ' 'w'i'tti sti6ll< ffflirijr iih'roiigh military* movements ,cnrite adcuVately. They > havV- ptcltetl "up^ the drill* and even the words, of coTttftn^anfT -by -Watching tho }<Wies oil pnr^dn.' "Tho average Som:alf' f 'has,'iTnl)oiinde'cl. confidehe'o in himself; 1 : Bat he is' rather, afYominaite. "His toilet is'-rf crftistant -so.nl-ce 6f an^iftty to himself." ,we, arc told, "and the pains ho w.ill - tako ,to curl his crisp, black hair. TpiV. the .application ' "of yarrows, rtntjaf^nc-es',' _ ,to hi* head is ', ' ind'erlMK" 'He' V< fond of fmery, if of ' luxurious ; arid jT&loient Ti«ib'its. 'and keep'fi up 'an incessant fue< of chatter. He is gras'piwp 1 . -"aiifcl ' in tho ■ matter^. ' ! of ' f<-fr(l ' i<< "rfrcotly. Timid in the pt-o«en'tirvof >h 'l i \"rop< i ah. he ifl l ensily;<vu'ile'? t\vxV q'iii«l<lv loses his head.". The : Romali'srohief pastime in , dancing. .>hii'fr ihc fiance consiafp in fa giWfc irlonl of -.vjnl^ni sV'm'nin<r. aocom^ani^d hlanVlw nnd a- wciixl ( ahd monptono^R wail. Tho mopt Riiccossfiti dappers nre those ♦hat raise, most rlnsi. SWiali women do "not daji'co ; -UiW ' 'do Viot oven smile. The ; mVn u hold' Uiem in com

])lele su^jecUon, /inc| trpnt^tljem wjth small Tonteideratabii. :S: So j far chc levies have been rather unsteady under iiiTe, but they promise, with training, to develop into useful solcliers.