34 ACKOSS AFRICA. [Ch.\p. 



March, some four miles from the town, near a plantation called Sharaba 

 18*73. Gonera. 



Just before making this move, rather an unpleasant fracas 

 occurred one morning when inspecting arms and seeing the 

 donkeys watered. It originated in a dispute between a slave- 

 girl and one of our boys who had charge of the riding-don- 

 keys, as to which should first draw water at the well. An Arab 

 rushed at the boy and commenced thrashing him, upon which 

 one of the askari flew at the Arab and hit him over the head 

 with a big stick, knocking him down and nearly stunning him ; 

 but as I could not approve of such summary justice, I had the 

 askari arrested. 



No sooner had the Arab recovered from the effects of the 

 blow than he made off, vowing vengeance, and in less than five 

 minutes was back, foaming at the mouth, brandishing liis sword, 

 ^nd swearing that he would " kill a dog of a ISTazarene, and 

 then die happy !" He was followed by a crowd of yelling and 

 infuriated friends, w^ho were, however, wise enough to prevent 

 him from carrying out his murderous intention. I ordered our 

 men to return their arms and remain perfectly passive, as there 

 seemed every prospect of a serious row. And it would have 

 been impossible to prevent one had a rifle been fired. 



Dillon, Murphy, and myself were altogether unarmed, but 

 had to walk up and dowm between our men and the crowd and 

 appear perfectly cool, though once or tw^ice the madman — for 

 by this time he had worked himself into a state of fury which 

 could not be distinguished from madness — broke loose and, 

 before his friends could seize him again, came close enough to 

 make it unpleasant. Once he approached me so nearly that I 

 was calculating the chances of being able to catch his wrist to 

 prevent his cutting me down. 



After a time Jemidar Issa appeared with the Balooches form- 

 ing the garrison, and scattered the crowd, and I informed him 

 that, having made a prisoner of the man who struck the blow, 

 I expected him to secure the Arab, with which request he prom- 

 ised compliance, and we returned to our lodgings. 



Shortly afterward in came our landlord in much alarm, tell- 

 ing us that the Arab and his friends had broken into his shop, 

 turned every thing topsy-turvy, and threatened to kill him if he 



