MY QUEST OF THE ARAB HORSE 



cline. Haffez explained that I did not drink 

 coffee, or smoke, but that he would take my 

 share, and the grim Bedouins smiled. Never 

 have I seen such a gathering as was seated 

 under the big ilat-topped tent; Bedouin after 

 Bedouin, as handsome warriors as one could 

 imagine, all with beards, except the young men 

 and boys and all so black that their high lights 

 were reallv blue. 



Hashem Bey's cousin told us how sorry the 

 great Sheikh had been to leave before our ar- 

 rival, but that as the war was not believed to 

 be a serious one, he would return in a few 

 days with the 2,500 mounted men he had taken 



away. 



Our camels had now arrived, and our tents 

 were pitched facing the Sheikh's, and many 

 Bedouins were set to clearing the space of its 

 rocks. 



They were anxious to see a letter from the 

 Governor of Aleppo to their Sheikh, and the 

 latter's secretary read it aloud. It must have 

 been a pretty strong document, for at inter- 

 vals everybody bowed, and touched their 

 mouths and forehead with their hand. Then 

 soon it was time for the feast. About two 

 o'clock four men came, carrying an immense 



[106] 



