152 LIFE WITH THE HAM RAN ARABS. 



squatting round us, with Albert to act as interpreter at 

 their side, each reports in turn on the events of the 

 day, and his intentions for the following one, so that 

 they may avoid going over the same ground as much as 

 possible. Their great desire is to show us the animals 

 for which they have as yet received no ' backsheesh/ as 

 they feel that these dollars are their own, whereas they 

 do not know how much will ultimately fall to their lot 

 of the hides, &c., after Sheik Aghill has set eyes upon 

 them. Still it is very difficult to extract any really use- 

 ful information regarding the prospect of finding differ- 

 ent species of animals where they propose taking us, 

 and questions of the kind only draw from them their 

 one word, ' Inshallah ' (please God) ; but they were kind 

 enough to tell us that they prayed to God every evening 

 to send them the animals they wanted for the ' back- 

 sheesh.' 



Vivian thought he would try a little extra persuasion 

 with his man Mohamed to-night, when the following con- 

 versation took place : 



Vivian. Do you think you will find me a lion to- 

 morrow ? 



Mohamed. Inshallah. 



Vivian. Do you hope to find me a lion to-morrow ? 



Mohamed. Inshallah. . . 



This reply wa? perhaps more satisfactory than was 



