THE SUCCESSFUL SPORTSMAN'S RETURN. 89 



into his chest, he became powerless to move, though two 

 more had to penetrate his thick hide before he was laid 

 low. On Vivian's return to camp there were great re- 

 joicings and shaking of hands, and one man with drawn 

 sword rushed out, and with frantic gestures danced wildly 

 before him. Everybody shakes hands in this country ; 

 if you meet a caravan, the whole party must go 

 through this performance with you if you halt for a 

 moment amongst them, otherwise ' Salaam aleikum * is 

 never omitted. The manner of the Arabs whom we 

 have so far met in our rambles has been most friendly, 

 and as if they considered us as their equals no more, no 

 less. Our little camp looks especially compact to-night. 

 Near one end of the sand-bank are three large fires that 

 light up the valley splendidly ; round them men are 

 lying asleep, so coiled up in their one sheet that they 

 look like dirty sacks, whilst others are squatting about 

 them eating elephant, an amusement that occupies most 

 of their spare time ; forming a crescent beyond them is 

 an impassable barrier of camels packed closely together, 

 with legs tucked under them and heads fixed as high 

 in air as they can stretch their long necks, and all facing 

 inwards. Beyond them our horses are tethered, and 

 lastly come our two tents. These tents answer admirably 

 for a dry climate ; but, not having the support of ropes, 

 an extra gust of wind gives us occasionally a little alarm 

 for their safety, and one did collapse last night from 



