TRIUMPHANT ARRIVAL AT JALO 93 



journey," they said. "You have the Sayed's blessing. 

 Therefore, your coming is an honour to us. Stay with 

 us a da^^ and let us see you again." The air was full of 

 warm enthusiasm and we felt we were among friends. 



In the morning, of course, it had all changed. It 

 is difficult in Europe to understand the mentaHty of these 

 children of nature. They are simple and emotional. 

 Such a little way below their impulsive kindness and 

 generosity lies the almost maniacal fanaticism of their 

 tradition. We were playing a difficult part and the 

 threads were apt to get complicated. We had to pretend 

 to be poor for fear of attack by robber bands, yet we 

 had to be able to bribe when necessary. I had to be a 

 JMoslem woman, yet I had to talk to ekhwan and sheikhs. 

 We had to be important Egj'ptians to be worth protect- 

 ing, yet we had no clothes or stores. We were travelling 

 on a secret mission for the Sayed, yet we wanted to go 

 to places where there could be no chance of work. It 

 was no wonder that suspicion constantly followed us. 

 Tales of a Christian woman and her secretary came from 

 Jedabia. It was possible that they would cling to us 

 all the way. 



Apparently a morose Beduin had come to She-ib's 

 tent the previous night and protested violently against 

 the arrival of these strangers from Egj^pt. "They are 

 not of us," he said. "We must put them through the 

 usual searching questions. Then we shall know who they 

 are and what is their business." "They have letters 

 from the Sayed. Is that not enough for you?" said our 

 friend. "They must learn that it is difficult to travel 

 in this country," insisted the Beduin. "No strangers 

 may come here." Apparently one of the important 

 people of the town was of hke opinion, for next day the 

 ekhwan were divided into two camps. One party was 

 for literally obejang the gracious letter of Sayed Rida 



