258 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



exchange — viz., several tents and slaves, forty 

 camels, sixteen other horses, and even his two 

 wives ; but nothing would induce Ben Ali the 

 Sheik (who was the principal owner) to part with 

 her. Bou Maza, who was on friendly terms with 

 the Djdjhura tribes, then determined to obtain her 

 by stealth; but this was a difficult operation, as 

 there were always people watching night and day. 

 After many days' consideration, and (as he told me) 

 severe praying to Allah to sharpen his wits, he 

 fixed upon a plan, and forthwith j)i*oceeded to 

 execute it. He cut himself with a knife about the 

 face and chest, and wounded his horse ; and one 

 day about noon claimed the protection of Ben Ali 

 the Sheik, stating that he had been attacked by 

 some Arabs of a neighbouring tribe, with whom 

 there was a bloody feud, who were lurking about 

 in the vicinity. In the desert, " the friends of our 

 friends are our friends, and the enemies of our 

 friends are also our enemies;" so the Sheik sent 

 out his young men to retaliate, and follow up the 

 supposed aggressors, whilst he and the Hakeem of 

 the tribe bound up the wounds and attended on 



