en. XX.] We read ojir Letters. i 29 



hospitality we can command, and he has dined 

 with us, but woukl not stay the night. There 

 would be danger for him, he said, to stay away so 

 far from his people, on account of the blood-feud 

 he has with the Ibn Shaalan. I have given him a 

 silver handled knife as a keepsake, telling him that 

 it belonged to my grandfather and greatgrandfather, 

 which has made him value it the more, and now 

 he has mounted his mare and cantered back the 

 way he came. He is a brave, warm-hearted boy, 

 and, unless he is overtaken by fate in his wars and 

 blood-feuds, will be a great man some day. 



The water here, when first drawn, tastes of rotten 

 eggs and sulphur, but improves on standing in the 

 air. It seems to be quite wholesome. 



We have now bade good-bye to the Sebaa, and 

 having our heads set, as the Arabs say, towards 

 home, Wilfrid has agjreed that the moment is come 

 for reading; our letters : so I leave off in fear and 

 trembling, to do so, for we have had no news from 

 home since the 20 th of November, nearly five 

 months ago. 



