40 THE SECRET OF SAHARA: KUFARA 



They are proud of their masters and devoted to them. 

 They are trusted and confidential. Thus Ali came to us 

 one evening in honest grief. "That Mustapha is a bad 

 man," he said. "He goes to the house of the doctor 

 and says he has not had enough to eat here. It is not 

 true. The Sayed is generous. There is everji;hing here. 

 It is not good for the Sayed's honour that such things 

 should be said." 



The blacks enjoyed the dance even more than we did, 

 for we had just heard that through too much ardour on 

 the part of our allies there was likely to be a hitch in 

 the arrangements. The long-delayed camels for the 

 caravan had arrived at last. The soldiers had come in 

 from Zuetina. We had better all start together at mid- 

 night, said our confidant triumphantly. Anyone who 

 knows the East will realise how difficult it is for even 

 two or three people to slip away secretly. Everyone's 

 business is known from A to Z. Projects are discussed 

 in the bazaars while they are still formless in the brain 

 of the plater. The idea that a score of camels and a 

 dozen sol(iiers, with luggage, tents, stores, guides, etc., 

 could start secretly from Jedabia was ludicrous. Already 

 there was a rumour in the suq that we were going to 

 Kufara because of the unfortunate suggestion that we 

 should accompany the caravan for a day or two! There- 

 fore, even while we gazed at the gyrating circle of blacks, 

 who flung themselves into extravagant postures, chanting 

 their monotonous songs and clicking together short sticks, 

 we had sent post haste to rearrange matters. News was 

 brought us that the delightful cavalry officer from Zue- 

 tina had arrived, two days before he was expected. 



"I think I will go and have tea at the doctor's," I 

 said firmly to Hassanein. "I will stay with them there 

 for two hours, which will give you plenty of time to get 

 the caravan postponed." 



