196 QUARRELLING AMONG THE TRADERS. [ c h a p . v .
claimed the right of road. Great confusion arose, and
both parties prepared for a fight, which after the usual
bluster died away to nothing. However, I noticed
that my men most unmistakeably took the part of
Mahommed Her against Ibrahim ; they belonging to
his tribe.
The evening arrived, and my vakeel, with his usual
cunning, came to ask me “ whether I intended to start
to-morrow ? ” He said there Was excellent shooting in
this neighbourhood, and that Ibrahim’s camp not being
more than five hours’ march beyond, I could at any
time join him, should I think proper. Many of my
men were sullenly listening to my reply, which was,
that we should start in company with Ibrahim. The
‘ men immediately turned their backs, and swaggered
insolently to the town, muttering something that I
could not distinctly understand. I gave orders directly,
that no man should, sleep in the town, but that all
should be at their posts by the luggage under the tree
that I occupied. At night several men were absent,
and were with difficulty brought from the town by the
vakeel. The whole of the night was passed by the
rival parties quarrelling and fighting. At 5.30 on
the following morning the drum of Ibrahim’s party
beat the call, and his men with great alacrity got their
porters together and prepared to march. My vakeel
SHAP.'v.] : THE LATOGKA MUTINY 197
was not to be found ; my men were lying idly in the
positions where they had slept ; and not a man obeyed
when I gave the order to prepare to start—except
Richarn an d .Sali. I saw that the moment had am
riyed. Again I gave the order to the men, to get up
and load the animals ; . , . not a man would move,
except three or four who slowly rose from the ground,
and stood resting on their guns. In the meantime
Richarn and Sali were bringing the camels and making
them kneel by the luggage. The boy Saat Was evidently
expecting a row, and although engaged with
the black women in packing, he kept his eyes constantly
upon me.
I now observed that Bellàal was standing very near
me on my right, in advance of the men who had risen
from the ground, and employed himself in eyeing me
from head to foot with the most determined insolence.
The fellow had his gun in his hand, and he was telegraphing
by looks With those who were standing near
him, while not one of the others rose from thè ground,
although close to me. Pretending not to notice Bellàal,
who was now as I had expected once more the ringleader,
for the third time I ordered the men to rise
•immediately, and to load the camels. Not a map
moved, but the fellow Bellàal marched up to me, and
looking me straight in the face dashed the butt-end of