1 6 Bcdonin Tribes of the Euphrates, [ch. x^-r. 



them. A little iieo'otiation at the same time was 

 entered into, about a certain mare of the Pasha's, 

 which there had been question, ever since our first 

 visit, of our buying. Still Huseyn was evidently- 

 far from pleased, and, though we affected an extreme 

 unconcern about the arrangements made, it was 

 evident that difficulties, perhaps troubles, were in 

 store for us before we could be clear away from 

 Deyr, It was most fortunate during all these nego- 

 tiations, that we were no longer in the Pasha's house, 

 for otherwise we should no doubt have had much 

 greater trouble in communicating with the Mehed. 

 As it was, a servant of the house was very fond of 

 hanging about listening, whenever conversation was 

 going on ; and our Christian landlord himself, with 

 his fat mother, dropped in from time to time. I 

 have little doubt that any information they picked 

 up went straight to the Serai. 



These Christians had the impertinence, on the 

 night of our arrival at their house, to sit down 

 with us at table, on chairs, and even to make 

 conversation before us ; but this was too much, 

 and we speedily set them in their proper place, which 

 was on the floor, according to the custom of the 

 country. We were not ilieiv guests but the Pasha's. 

 The only trustworthy person in the establishment 

 was old Mariam, the cook's wife, with whom we left 

 a letter explaining our plans to the Consul, in case 

 lie might yet by accident arrive at Deyr. But of 

 this there now seemed little chance. 



