56 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



dollars and liberated, and then retained at wages of four 

 dollars a month. He does not appear now to care for his 

 bargain, and has granted us the great privilege of allowing 

 us to take him to England //"we care to do so. He is a 

 nice-looking intelligent young negro named Abdullah, 

 and in this country he may prove a very useful addition 

 to 'our gradually increasing establishment. 



Though all were astir at 5 A.M. to ensure an early 

 departure, it was 1.30 P.M. before it was accomplished, 

 owing to the difficulty of loading our camels in the 

 narrow lane in which our palace is situated, though we 

 have been able to reduce their number to twenty- three 

 in consequence of our diminished stores and the greater 

 size of the animals. The change in them has also given 

 us one great advantage in addition, for, unlike the others, 

 they are free from horrid sores on the back and hips. 

 At the last moment Mr. Cohen called to tell us that he 

 thought he could leave after all this evening, and catch 

 us up ; we hope, however, he observed that the announce- 

 .ment received no cordial response, as it will save future 

 complications. Munsinger Pasha also came to bid us 

 farewell, adding that he would not wish us good luck, as 

 this to sportsmen was apt to bring the reverse. He 

 brought us a letter to the Sheik of the Hamran village, 

 .asking him to look after our interests, and gave us some 

 friendly words of advice with regard to using great 

 - caution in shooting big game, especially the rhinoceros, 



