17б CURIOSITY AND RUDENESS OF MOB. 



able, and we were obliged to content ourselves with 

 the den assigned for our use. 



We unloaded our camels, dragged everything 

 into the house, and hoped to get some rest ; but the 

 crowd of people who filled the court-yard and street 

 would not give us a moment's peace. We tried to 

 close the doors and windows, but they were broken, 

 and we were beset by an impertinent mob, some 

 ruffianly-looking soldiers making themselves particu- 

 larly offensive ; they actually began feeling our per- 

 sons, until a few kicks caused them to desist and 

 retire a few paces, when they began abusing us. 

 The policemen, incited by the offer of a liberal 

 reward, exerted their utmost to keep the crowd 

 back, and several fights ensued ; at last they suc- 

 ceeded in closing the gates, but the inquisitive 

 rascals climbed on the roof and let themselves down 

 into the yard. This continued till evening, when 

 they dispersed ; and we lay down to rest, w^rn out 

 with the fatigues of the day. But the heat was so 

 suffocating, and the soldiers lodging in the house 

 kept so continually and unceremoniously entering 

 our apartment, that we could not sleep, and we rose 

 at daybreak with violent headaches, determined to 

 purchase whatever we needed and take our departure 

 as quickly as possible. 



But no sooner did we venture into the streets 

 than the experiences of the previous day were 

 renewed. The mob surrounded us like a dense 

 wall, despite the energy of the same policemen, who 

 plied their long pig-tails like whips on either side to 



