28 [ No. 97 ECONOMIC CONDITIONS from July to September, but throughout the year dhows from Berbera and the western ports of British Somaliland maintain a desultory trade.

(B ) INDUSTRY a ( 1 ) LABOUR As the physical conditions of the country are suited to pastoral pursuits rather than to agriculture, the people are mostly shepherds and therefore have had no opportunity for economic development. By some they are held to be lazy, but this opinion seems to be based only on the fact that they allow their women to work for them. When employed at the fibre factory which was established a few years ago, they proved themselves to be capable and energetic. As stokers on steamships they are found to be very useful, and fairly easy to manage. An authority who knows them well says that they are energetic and adaptable. They appear to be capable of considerable economic development.

Returns kept at the three chief coast towns show that there are about 3,000 emigrants from the country each year, and the same number of immigrants. These figures probably refer to natives who go to work at Aden and elsewhere, or to seek employment on steamers and trading dhows, returning to their homes after a comparatively brief absence. There is no permanent or considerable movement of people either outwards or inwards.

(2) AGRICULTURE (a) Products of Commercial Value Agricultural products may be said at present to be quite insignificant. For his grain food, as well as for rice and dates, the Somali depends largely upon imports.