THE FLIGHT FROM TAJ 231 



Secondly, because, though what may be called the party 

 directly responsible to the Government were very kindly 

 disposed towards the guests of their rulers, the ancient 

 and old-fashioned ekhwan held aloof. They would not 

 believe that any strangers could have been given per- 

 mission to penetrate their guarded privacy. They were 

 torn between their desire to do honour to the Sayeds 

 and their horror of diverging a hair's breadth from 

 immemorial custom. Among the Zouias there were now 

 two factions. Many had been infected by the stories 

 of the Bazama f amity and Abdullah, but a small party 

 had gradually formed in our favour under the leadership 

 of Suleiman Bu Matar. 



There were always, however, currents and cross- 

 currents under the surface which sometimes rippled into 

 open suspicion. Also there had been many very per- 

 sistent inquiries on the part of the most lawless elements 

 as to the exact date of our departure and our proposed 

 route. It was known that the soldiers would not be 

 travelling with us, so we should be an easy prey if the 

 tribesmen wanted to play their last card. We there- 

 fore spread the rumour that we should remain at least 

 a fortnight longer at Taj and privately began to make 

 preparations for another flight, this time aided ani 

 abetted by the kaimakaan, who planned to send our 

 little caravan a day's march ahead while we were still 

 openly in Taj. Under the guidance of a trusted sheikh 

 we could overtake it on fast-trotting camels. 



Meanwhile it was necessary that we should investigate 

 the western end of the oasis. For this purpose Sheikh 

 Suleiman offered himself as guide and host combined. 

 "I will arrange everything," he said quietly. "Do 

 not trouble yourselves. You shall travel in comfort." 

 We rather wondered what represented his idea of 

 comfort when he announced that we would start two 



