CH. XX.] The NigJit before the Batik. 1 1 7 



Feytleh, and indeed I was extremely glad when I 

 saw Hanna coming to say that the Beg wanted to 

 speak to me at our own tent. 



The ghazii story is not a sham this time. Scouts 

 have come in announcing the approach of a large 

 body of horsemen, a thousand they say, with ad- 

 vanced parties of men on dromedaries, armed with 

 muskets. One party of fifty are reported to be 

 quite close. They were seen in a wady, just ov^er 

 the brow of a hill not two miles off, yet, such 

 seems to be the helplessness of the Gomussa for 

 want of a chief, that no attempt is being made to cut 

 off this small party, nor any preparation for meet- 

 ing the enemy till Jedaan shall arrive. Messengers 

 have been sent off post haste for him, and other 

 messengers to call in outlying sections of the trilje, 

 and w^arn them to keep with the main body. ]\Ieshur 

 is the leading spirit in this, young as he is, and 

 Beteyen is quite put aside. For our own part, we 

 have contented ourselves with tethering our mares 

 at the tent door and having everything ready for a 

 sudden march. We are rather in an exposed posi- 

 tion, being at the extreme edge of the Anazeh camp 

 with no tents between us and the threatened danger ; 

 but Ghdnim, who is a Eoala, assures us that the 

 ghazii will not meddle with us, and we are anxious 

 only for our mares. Wilfrid is hoping to see some- 

 tliino; of the battle, which seems imminent for to- 

 morrow morning. Beteyen 's camp is thronged with 

 people coming and going, and from every tent wo 



