230 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



turning very tired after our long ride and scarcity of 

 provisions, it was most annoying to be told that Sheik 

 Aghill had arrived yesterday, with two uncles, also 

 Sheiks, and that he intended remaining until to-morrow ; 

 so the long-dreaded visit has at last come to pass, and 

 he has of course chosen the present time to make sure 

 of getting his dollars, as it is the termination of the 

 camel-men's month. 



Before making him receiver-general, as he asked to be, 

 we sent for the chief of our party to know if this would 

 meet with general approval. Essafi distinctly objected 

 to receiving his wages through the Sheik, as he was sure 

 the Sheik would try to borrow what he did not claim, 

 and therefore paid him four dollars out of his savings 

 at once, to be quit of him and his extortions. Nothing 

 satisfies this voracious ogre, and he tried his utmost to 

 extract some extra dollars from us on the most trifling 

 pleas, even begging for one because we sent a man to 

 Kassala ; but we know our friend too well now to be 

 humbugged by his energetically kissing our hands in 

 turn, or by any other dodges to induce us to open the 

 dollar-bag again. 



During the process of pleading it was very amusing 

 to see him trying to get round Albert by soft words 

 and winking after his own fashion by completely 

 closing one eye ; and when he found this plan unsuc- 

 cessful he became very angry with Albert for not taking 



