MEETING WITH HASHEM BEY 



often came to him to buy horses. We got 

 along well, but never easily. 



Finally I took a walk with Akmet Haffez, 

 and when we were alone, except for Ameene, 

 the interpreter, Haffez asked in a low voice 

 how I liked the great Hashem Bey. 



I looked at the old man's face to see if he 

 was prepared for an honest answer, and see- 

 ing that he wanted my candid opinion, I told 

 him I was glad Hashem Bey had ridden three 

 days instead of us. The old man rolled with 

 quiet laughter, and taking hold of my arm a 

 little tighter, said: "I am glad to see you are a 

 judge of human nature as well as of horses. 

 While he's the Sheikh of all, there are thou- 

 sands of men in his own tribe that are far bet- 

 ter than he, as men. He is angry, as you know, 

 because the Governor of Aleppo gave you the 

 ^laneghi, but let me tell you something more : 

 he has already expressed an unwillingness to 

 put his seal on the horse's pedigree. But," 

 and the old man's eyes flashed, "I will force him 

 to do it or else make him appear ridiculous be- 

 fore Allah and his own tribes." 



Hashem Bey seemed to be more interested 

 in our rifles and guns than anything else. I 

 presented him with my rifle (a special "Sav- 



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