TRIUMPHANT ARRIVAL AT JALO 97 



over the baggage in search of the sacks which had been 

 mysteriously taken from our Jedabia dwelhng at dead 

 of night. I recognised them one by one and peace visited 

 my soul, even though, when I looked down, I saw the 

 striped legs of my pyjama trousers appearing beneath my 

 red tobh, for the ill-used cotton pantaloons had given way 

 altogether the previous evening. 



We asked for news of Jedabia. "They say in the 

 suq that you escaped in an aeroplane sent by Allah," 

 said Abdullah gravely, but Abdul Rahim smiled his wise 

 little smile. "They asked me where I was going with 

 my big caravan," he said, "and I told them I was 

 travelling to punish some Beduins who had not paid their 

 taxes to the Sayed." We learned through a letter from 

 our ebony confidant that it was the second messenger 

 who had discovered us by the Wadi Farig. The first had 

 searched in vain and returned without news. The ekhwan 

 and the party who had opposed our going were furious 

 at our escape, which had been quite unsuspected. So 

 apparently were certain robber bands upon the road, for 

 near Bir Rassam the caravan, marching day and night 

 to overtake us (it had done the 220 kilometres in four 

 and a half days), were accosted by some armed Beduins 

 who asked where they were going, while two or three 

 others who gathered in the vicinity said, "^Miere is 

 the rich Nasrani woman who is going to travel south 

 with large stores of food?" "I know nothing about 

 her," said Abdul Rahim. "There is no woman with us, 

 but if you want to fight us we shall be delighted!" The 

 disappointed Arabs retired hastily. 



We did not go to bed without further evidence of the 

 Sayed's generositj^ A huge sack of dates was brought 

 to my tent. "From Sayed Rida's gardens. We received 

 a message to give them to you." 



There was much "fadhling" in the various tents that 



