29th.—This day we completed our journey by
marching into Gori, when I again took occupation of
the old fort. An answer from the Government at Aden
to my appeal against the sultan and Abban had now
arrived, and affected Sumunter severely. He was
ready to sink into the earth, and said to me, “ Oh, why
did you not whip me when I was in fault ? I could
have borne that well, but writing to the English at
Aden is more than I can bear. What will be the consequences
now if I return to Aden ?” I said I could
not answer for it, as it was now beyond my control,
and if he went over there he must take his chance;
but I strongly advised his not going at all. “ Indeed,”
I said, “ I wish you would depart from me at once.
Erom the first, I told you I was obliged, by order, to
write accurate accounts of everything as it happened,
and the English, as you have often said yourself, are
remarkable for not telling lies.” The sultan, into
whose hands the letter first went, would not show
himself, but remained in the distant jungles, although
I sent repeatedly for him to converse concerning Sumunter.
The buggalow in which I came from Aden was now
anchored in Bunder Gori. I t had made a voyage
somewhere in the meanwhile, but the captain had been
afraid to go to Aden in consequence of the salt question,
in which Sumunter had made him confederate, fearing
lest I might have since written to the authorities there
about it. However, I now wanted to hire it again,
and made sundry overtures to the captain, who at first
showed a disposition to treat, hoping thereby I should
forgive him • but he was finally hindered from doing
so by the insidious machinations of Sumunter, who
doubtless was afraid by this means of collecting at
Aden more witnesses against himself. Sumunter now
saw his position clearly, and must have felt equally
with myself it was a great pity the letter of reproof
from the Brigadier of Aden* did not arrive sooner, and
keep him on a course of rectitude, for he was obliged
to return to Aden and take his chance, as there he
had not only a wife and family, but it was the headquarters
of all his mercantile transactions. During
th i s time, whilst I was in the old fort, an odd accident
occurred to an Akil’s wife. She was playing with my
interpreter, who, for a frolic, snatched up one of my six-
barrelled revolver pistols and gave her chase. Suddenly
she darted into the room I was sitting in, bounced
on a bench and poked her tail in my man’s face. He,
not knowing the pistol was loaded, pulled at the trigger,
and discharged the contents of two barrels at once into
her fleshy projection. In an instant their fun came to
an end, and great consternation ensued. She thought
she must die from it, and bolted off home to give up
the ghost; Her husband now came and clamoured for
revenge—her value was so-and-so, and my man must
pay it. The interpreter, hearing this, came crying to
me, and wished to know if I thought she would die ;
for should she do so, he, by the laws of the land, would
have to pay her price. I said I could not tell without
* Then changed to Colonel Coghlan.