WE KEEP WATCH OVER OUR LAST ARAB. 327 



soup-meat with some rice supplied my wants, and 

 toasted gazelle Ibrahim's ; but what was to be done for 

 the Arab, for he. refused to eat meat, as it gave him a 

 pain in the stomach ? We could not let him starve, 

 so a little rice and a biscuit had to be given him from 

 our precious stores, and with the promise that we 

 would buy some dhurra for him on arrival at the station 

 he fell asleep quite contentedly. But his weak diges- 

 tion has rather complicated our position, for when we 

 did arrive at our destination the soldiers declared that 

 they had not an atom of dhurra, and that they were 

 entirely dependent upon what they could seize from 

 passing caravans. About sunset we stopped for half an 

 hour to let Ranfurly rest and have a cup of chocolate, 

 and then went on again till 11.30 P.M. The same diffi- 

 culty again about water as at last station, but we had 

 enough to cook our dinners, and afterwards Ranfurly 

 laid down on an angarep inside a hut. Our guide to- 

 day begged us to try to save his two camels from being 

 taken by the soldiers at Souakim, and his alarm for their 

 safety was probably much increased by our passing a 

 large caravan laden with ammunition, and under a very 

 strong escort. Whatever may be in store for him or them, 

 one thing is certain viz., that they shall go to Souakim, 

 and to prevent .any chance of escape I make him stay 

 close to me during the midday halt whilst Ranfurly 

 sleeps, and whilst I occupy my spare time in writing 



