MY FRIEND ABDALLAH, THE MINSTREL. 309 



rugged constitution, in a few months, our friend was as well as 

 ever. 



At the time I first made his acquaintance, his wounds had 

 not yet healed, but this did not prevent his singing, if not 

 very sweetly, yet at least on a very high key, and in a very 

 loud voice. As with the Arabs the one that makes the greatest 

 din is reputed the most brilliant singer, therefore in the 

 Mahouna country, Abdallah occupied a very high rank among 

 the native vocalists of his age. 



. After his discomfiture with the lioness in his own wheat- 

 field, he always retained a most inveterate dislike, not 

 only to lionesses, but also to lions of every sex and degree ; 

 and it was owing to my perpetual war on this animal that he 

 immediately took me to his affections, and with every new 

 victory sounded my praises in triumphal verses, far and near, 

 with a voice that would not have discredited one of the bulls 

 of Bashan. 



