THE ARABS' FEAR OF THE BASE. 159 



would very much like to go in a large body under Sheik 

 Aghill, and kill them and carry off all their cattle ; but 

 they are afraid to do so, as Munsinger Pasha has ordered 

 them to leave the Base alone ; so the gradual advance 

 of Egypt's power in this direction does appear to be 

 bearing fruit, and now that a portion of the Bas6 

 country actually belongs to Egypt, and pays her taxes, 

 it may not be very long before the whole of this wild 

 race will seek her protection if she does not extend it 

 unasked ; and when this is accomplished, Abyssinia, 

 only lying beyond, will have reason to feel alarm for her 

 safety in this direction from her great enemy. Except- 

 ing one or two, nothing would induce our men to 

 go with us into the Base country, and the very name 

 of Base seems to strike terror to their hearts ; and if the 

 Base are equally afraid of the Hamrans, there must be 

 every chance of a mutual stampede on the sight of one 

 another. Another of Essafi's statements is, that their 

 cattle are so limited in number that they rarely kill any, 

 and depend chiefly for meat on the assistance of lions 

 and vultures ; for they watch the flight of the vultures> 

 and are often guided by them to the body of a buffalo or 

 antelope which has been killed by a lion, and they then 

 bag all that their friends have not already demolished. 

 Vivian has made a discovery, though not without some 

 hesitation in the attempt, for having seen Mohamed 

 frequently partake of raw liver, he has become so ac- 



