as though it were a feather, and balancing it on his1
head, stepped along in the line of porters as though
nothing had occurred.
Trifling as this incident may appear, it was of much
service to me, as it served as an introduction to both
Turks and natives. I heard the former conversing*
together, praising the speed of the horse, and congratulating
themselves on the impossibility of the porters
escaping now that they had seen how quickly they
could be overtaken. Another remarked, “ Wah Illahi,
I should not like to chase a nigger so closely while
a lance was in his hand. I expected he would turn
sharp round and throw it through the Hawaga.” Thus
I was now looked upon by the Turks as an ally, and
a t the same time I was regarded by the Latookas as
their ■ friend for having saved their man ; and they
grinned their approbation in the most unmistakeable
manner as I rode past their line, shouting, | Morrte,
morrte, m a tta t! ” (welcome, welcome, chief!)
On arriving at a large town, named Kattaga, we
rested under the shade- of an immense tamarind tree.
There was no sign of my men and animals, and I
began to think that something had gone wrong. For
two hours we waited for their arrival. Ascending
some rising ground, I at length observed my caravan
approaching in the distance, and every one of my
men, except Bicham, mounted upon my donkeys,
although the poor animals were already carrying loads
of 150 lbs. each. Upon observing me, the dismount
was sudden and general. On their arrival I found
that three of the men had deserted, including “ Bel-
laal,” and had joined the party of Mahommed Her,
taking with them my guns and ammunition. Two
had previously joined that p arty; thus five of my
men were now engaged by those slave-hunters, and
I little doubted that my remaining men would abscond
likewise.
On the arrival of my vakeel he told me, in face of
the men, that so many had deserted, and that the
others had refused to assist him in taking the guns
from them; thus my arms and ammunition had been
forcibly stolen. I abused both the .vakeel and the
men most thoroughly, and as for the mutineers who
have joined the slave-hunters, “ Inshallah, the vultures
shall pick their bones! ”
This charitable wish—which, I believe, I expressed
with intense hatred—was never forgotten either by
my own men or by the Turks. Believing firmly in
the evil eye, their superstitious fears were immediately
excited.
Continuing the march along the same style of
country we shortly came in view of Tarrangolle, the