P. SpeJce.—“ Where is the salt which yon confess
came with us to Goriat, and which you have told me
daily you would give; but as yet, though everything,
you say, is in the camp, it has not arrived ? I
D. Sumunter.—“ I did not bring it because it was
so heavy, and thought you would not want it.”
P.—“ Then why did you not land it at Goriat, and
give it me there, or why did you even buy it at all at
Aden if it was of no use ? ”
D.—“ Because the Nahkoda took it to Bunder
Gori.”
After a few more questions and answers, and the
subject was exhausted, the sultan (judge), who had
been sitting in silence with his head buried in his
hands, now gave a grunt and motioned us to continue.
P.—“ Where are the bales of cloth which by my
account and Imam’s are missing?”
D.—“ I did not take them ; somebody else must
have.”
P .—“ They were in your charge, and you are answerable
for them; besides which, Farhan here knows
you gave them away.”
Judge.—“ Ahem ! ” and the prosecution continued.
P .—“ Where are the twenty rupees I gave you for
hiring donkeys, and which I particularly ordered
should not be expended for any other purpose ? ”
Sumunter, putting his hand fixedly in his breast,
said, “ I’ve got them; they are all right. I will give
them to you presently.”
Speke.—“ No! give them to me now; I want them
this instant.”
Sumunter, confused, and fumbling at his pocket,
much to the delight of all the court, who burst with
laughter, said, “ No ! I’ve left them at home in Bunder
Gori, and will give them by-and-by.”
Judge.—“ Ahem ! ” and the prosecution continued.
P .—“ Why did you change my good rice for bad ?”
(opening and showing the contents of the nearest
sack).
D.—“ I thought it would not signify: bad rice is
good enough for the camel-drivers, and I have left
enough good for your consumption. An old friend
asked me for it, and I did it to oblige him.”
Judge.—“ Ahem! ” and the prosecution continued.
P .—“Why did you attempt to bribe Farhan? to
leave my service, and say nothing to me about it ? ”
D.—“ Farhan is a bad man; and I was afraid he
would steal your things.”
Judge.—“ Ahem ! ”
Thus ended the prosecution and defence. The
sultan raised his head, and in answer to my appeal as
to what judgment he would give, calmly said, he could
see no harm in what had been done—Sumunter was
my Abban, and, in virtue of the ship he commanded,
was at liberty to do whatever he pleased either with
or to my property. Words, in fact, equivalent to saying
I had come into a land of robbers, and therefore
must submit to being robbed; and this I p l a in ly told