2 6 th. I sent orders back for tbe rear traps to come
on as quick as possible, and at tbe suggestion of my
servants, who were just as tired as myself of tbese incessant
provocations, changed camp to a place three
miles farther up the valley, much more remote from
water, but nearer to the Abban’s home, by which I
hoped I should be able to get at him easier; for the
aggravating wretch, whenever I sent messages to recall
him, invariably returned plausible excuses, showing
the necessity of his having stopped away, and as
repeatedly said he would not fail in coming immediately
; but at the same time, as the sequence
showed, never intending to do so.
I t would be useless, as well as painful, to narrate in
detail all the daily and hourly incidents which occurred
in the next few days whilst I was detained here by
the artful and dishonest machinations of this vile-conditioned
man, from whom I could never get one true
word, and whose absence, although I was striving to
induce his coming to me, really seemed a relief. A
wicked feeling was almost coming over me, which
made me shudder again when I reflected more calmly
on what my mind was now dilating. He seemed to
me only as an animal in satanical disguise ; to have
shot him would have given me great relief, for I fairly
despaired of ever producing any good effect upon his
mind. Again I tried the old scheme of forcing him
to leave me, and even begged an Akil of the Dulba-
hantas, offering him large rewards, to be my guide to
Berbera. This, as might be imagined, provoked a
severe row. The man I was endeavouring to seduce
to favour me was one of the gang of forty thieves, and
as birds of a feather all Dulbahantas flocked together
to assist the victim of my displeasure ; for Sumunter
was, by his intermarriage with these northerners, naturalised
amongst them. However, I had my wicked
will, by relating, in presence of all his now rapidly
congregating friends (a row always brings a crowd),
the whole of his misdemeanours since he first came
with me to this country, and threatened him with the
lasting displeasure of our Government, and ruin to his
trade at Aden, if he still persisted in his tricks. This
brought matters home much closer than anybody liked
to hear, and set all parties cogitating on what course
had best be followed. I now retired to cool myself
by shooting, and on returning again was met by the
Abban, interpreter, and many Dulbahanta Akils, who,
now trying the conciliating dodge, came to report the
good news that a victory had been gained by the northerners,
and the southerners were in full retreat to
their provinces, by which the road to Berbera would
be open to my proceeding onwards. Moreover, the
rear traps had arrived at Abi, by which accident
everything seemed to harmonise. This sounded very
cheering for the moment, but I soon was damped
again.
I wanted to move at once, and lose no time in taking
full benefit of the opportunity thus offered; but
this, like every other proposal that I made, was immediately
checked by a cruel device, as unforeseen as it