CII. XVIII 



] New Vexations. 47 



instead of staying encamped outside tlie town we 

 should come with all our property to reside in 

 Abdallah's liouse. In this proposal Mohammed 

 was of course as our host bound to join, and then 

 the foxy-faced Hassan chimed in with a suggestion 

 that we should put ourselves entirely into his 

 hands ; he would show us everything we wanted to 

 see, and make every arrangement for us we wished 

 made, and see us safely on to Damascus. Our 

 hearts sank at this new turn things seemed to be 

 taking, and we dared say nothing about the 

 Anazeh. We have refused, however, to move 

 from where we are, saying that it Avill be quite 

 time enoug;h to do that when arrang-ements have 

 been made for our further journey. At present we 

 have the ruins to see, and also we expect a friend 

 to join us from Aleppo, for we still cling to the 

 hope that the Consul may yet come to our rescue. 

 Wilfrid, however, is very desponding about it, 

 and nearly had a serious quarrel this afternoon with 

 Mohammed. He was in an irritable mood, because 

 Mohammed had joined with the Mudir in bothering 

 us with this proposal of moving our camp ; and it 

 came to a crisis when a townsman, recommended by 

 Mohammed as an intelligent blacksmith, drove a 

 lonsf nail into Has-ar's foot, for her shoes wanted 

 replacing. This made the cup of bitterness run 

 over, and we left Abdallah's house in anger. Per- 

 haps it was fortunate that the explosion occurred, 

 for it led to an explanation, the result of which is 



