there. A pony had been hired for my riding, and on
this animal I wished to send Imam back, to find out
the truth of everything, and to return to me the
following day; but the wicked young prince, Abdullah,
got wind of my intention, and had the pony
driven away, so that the unfortunate Imam had to
walk.
25 th.—Still nobody came. I now despatched the
interpreter on the same mission, and was left alone
with the young prince and two or three camel-drivers.
After a little while had elapsed, a number of savage
hungry-looking men came up the hill and settled
themselves in my encampment, squatting on the date-
bags and clamouring for food. The prince and camel-
drivers joined them, and became so importunate, I
was obliged to rebuke them with angry demonstration.
No sooner did they see me vexed than they began
hovering tauntingly around me, jeering and vociferating
in savage delight at the impunity they enjoyed in
irritating me when all alone and helpless. However,
I stood by the date and rice bags with my gun, and
prevented anybody coming near me. The prince and
camel-men now seeing me determined, and no farther
discomposed by their manoeuvres, came supplicating
for their daily rations. I gave it them at once, but
could not satisfy them; they must have some more
for all their brothers (meaning the blackguards who
had just arrived), or they would strike work. This
stirred my blood; I took back what I had given, and
resolutely declined to be passively cajoled out of anything,
let happen what may. They saw I was determined
not to submit to them; and suddenly, as if the
same thought struck every one of them at the same
instant, they 'dashed down the hill, flying over the
bushes and stones in their way, with yells and shouts,
and, seizing a goat from a neighbouring flock, killed
and quartered it without a moment’s hesitation. At
this juncture, just as the robbed shepherd came crying
to me for the price of his goat, Imam arrived from
Gloriat, and tried to reason with him, that it was no
business of mine, and I could not be expected to pay
it. The injured man then swore he would have justice
done bim at the sultan’s hands, and all yelled
again for dates and rice. As they could not get it,
the young prince, ever full of boyish tricks, now seized
up a mussack (water-skin), and said I should have no
more water until I complied with their demands. The
others, following his example, picked up as many more
as they could find, and left but one mussack remaining.
This one I immediately captured, and requested
Imam to fill from a spring farther down the h ill; but
the men, thus far outdone, rather than allow it, said
they would kill him if he dared attempt to go now.
As Imam showed alarm at their wild threats, I took
the water-skin myself and walked off to fill it, upon
which the savages threw themselves out in line,
flourishing their spears and bows, and declared they
would kill me if I persisted in going. On I went,
however, and had just passed through their line, when
the sultan’s eldest son, Mohamed Aul, fortunately