220 A Sportsman at Large 



(except when dealing with a recalcitrant donkey- boy) soothing 

 and restful in the extreme. 



Abu Zed, our steward, I have already introduced. Quite a 

 character this. His head was much too big for his body, 

 whilst his nose looked as if it had been dumped on 

 warm and had run ! The reis (captain) was a dignified 

 looking person, in turban and long burnous, who would 

 have scored several points to the " beaver " hunter of 1922. 

 He was a perfect martinet, and kept the " Olla-podrida " 

 strictly to their duties. But one day a certain young Arab, 

 whom we had named " Handsome Hassan," owing to his 

 Apollo-like features and elegant form, got the good reis's " wind 

 up," having failed to conform to the strict rules of Ramadan, 

 the great Mohammedan fast, which was then toward ; he 

 being of the more modern and looser cult of Egypt. Natur- 

 ally, I was not much impressed by the indictment of his 

 backslidings, but the majority of the crew being of the 

 strictly orthodox persuasion insisted on the unfortunate 

 " knut " being marooned, failing which, they declared their 

 intention of going on strike and leaving us to shift for our- 

 selves. This was moral blackmail with a vengeance, but 

 it proved irresistible ; so, on the principle that " the greatest 

 good is for the greatest number," the wretched Hassan was 

 then and there put on shore. When I inquired of Farag 

 (alias Hassanein) how the unfortunate fellow would find his 

 way back to Cairo, our dragoman's lip curled. 



" He not find way back. Fuzzi-wuzzis find him ; kill him 

 all right." 



This was a startler ! Had I not had reason to doubt the 

 accuracy of my informant's statements on many occasions, 

 my conscience would have smitten me sorely and the blood 

 of " Handsome Hassan " might have called for vengeance 

 on my devoted head. 



Later on, when we had returned to Cairo, I discovered that 

 the derelict and attractive Arab had not only arrived in 

 safety at the city, but, on the way, had gathered unto himself 

 a well-endowed wife as well as various flocks and herds, which 

 he had probably stolen. 



I have not said much about our shooting activities during 



