20 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



at a white umbrella, bolted off. Away it galloped at an 

 astonishing pace, and though its rider showed very con- 

 siderable daylight he managed to keep on its back until 

 in his efforts to turn the brute's head round, the cord 

 acting as bridle suddenly snapped, and he was at once 

 landed on his back on terra firma, with most fortunately 

 no more serious injury than a deep cut of one thumb. 

 The camel continued its mad career across the plain 

 until almost out of sight, when it turned round and 

 ultimately allowed itself to be caught. In the mean- 

 time all the things slung on to the saddle had been 

 jerked off, but were afterwards found uninjured. 

 Amongst them was an eight-bore smooth-bore of mine, 

 made by Holland, upon which I had set my heart to 

 astonish an elephant or any other big game that might 

 cross my path ; but it was evidently made on an evil day, 

 for very soon after it had this narrow escape from being 

 broken or lost, and whilst we were sitting down at 

 luncheon, it was taken off the saddle by our very willing 

 but much too officious young dragoman Albert and 

 placed against a tree, and then, forgetting it was there, 

 he backed a camel on to it, and broke the stock in half. 

 So ends, I fear, all my fond hopes of testing its powers, 

 though Vivian intends trying to mend it. With charges 

 of powder varying from 6 to 8 drachms, and with 

 hardened spherical ball, its penetration, tested at the 

 Silvertown ranges up to forty yards, was immense ; and to 



