XXII MY MEN ATTACKED 241 



an adjacent village, that some women had agreed to do 

 it for two salts, and that they were quietly sitting down 

 and chatting while the work went on. Presently a man 

 named Argaferry Tobedgee, who ranks next to Ledj 

 Desster in the neighbourhood, arrived and began abusing 

 them for being my servants. This led to a quarrel, in 

 the course of which Argaferry attacked my men with 

 the butt-end of his rifle, callino^ on the villagers to do 

 the same. However, the latter rather sided with my 

 people, and after separating the conflicting parties, tied 

 up my men's heads and brought them back to camp. 

 I dressed the wounds and summoned Basha Kassa, 

 telling him he was answerable for the proper treat- 

 ment of myself and my men, and that he had better take 

 steps to ensure our safety, or take the consequences. 



Two days later, Ledj Desster came to inquire into 

 the case. I said I left the matter entirely to him, and 

 that if my men were in the wrong I wished them to 

 be punished according to the custom of the country. 

 They then adjourned to a neighbouring tree, and I went 

 out shooting. When I returned to camp in the evening, 

 I heard that my men had been awarded twelve salts 

 as compensation, and that Desster had said he was 

 going away, leaving Argaferry in charge, and that I had 

 better keep my men in camp ! Next morning Ledj 

 Desster returned with the five village elders who had 

 tried the case, and, after an egg-cupful of neat absinthe 

 and a piece of cake, he gave me a full account of the 

 trial. He recited how he had called five men full of 

 years and wisdom to try the case, and related in detail 

 all they and the witnesses had said, with the result that 



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