470 APPENDIX I. 



the Sheiks made themselves conspicuous by their opposition to 

 the Kai'd, who determined to get rid of all his enemies at one 

 blow ; he therefore made peace with them, and all seemed well 

 and tranquil for some time. At last came the holiday I'ashora, 

 or the day of the Sultan's tenthing, when an invitation was 

 issued by the Kaiid to all his Sheiks to appear at his entertain- 

 ment ; none dare refuse, and so all went. The Kaid had, in 

 the meantime, prepared a large room, into which he sent the 

 Sheiks known to be his enemies, and another into which he 

 sent those known to be his friends. When all had feasted until 

 they coidd eat no more, the Kaid quietly ordered the windows 

 and doors to be closed, the men to be bound, burning charcoal 

 to be placed in the room, and the doors then to be built up, and 

 aU left to their fate. Nine days afterwards, when the room 

 was opened, nothing remained of all those men, some twenty- 

 two or twenty-three, but bones, attesting the fatal effects of 

 burning charcoal and the daring ferocity of the rats ; except 

 one man whom the Kaid pardoned, believing him to be inno- 

 cent, as his life seemed to be so miraculously preserved. 



Wliat the Sultan means when he bestows a Wife. 



The Kaid of Shedmah, Boh Djemma, had distinguished him- 

 self against some rebels who had risen against the Sultan, and 

 the praise bestowed upon him openly by his enemies in the 

 hearing of the Sultan, excited the suspicious sovereign's anger 

 and jealousy to such an extent that he was determined to get 

 I'id of such a dangerous enemy ; in order to which he called for 

 the Kaid and praised his exploits in the presence of all his 

 great men, ordered him a suit of his own royal clothing and 

 a favourite horse, and promised him a wife out of his own 

 seraglio. The Kaid rejoiced, and his enemies too : the Kaid, 

 because he regarded himself as a favourite ; and his enemies, who 

 were older and knew better, because that he was doomed. In 

 a few days the Kaid was sent home and his new wife along with 

 him in great state, and in ten days more the Kaid was carried 

 to the grave, he having died suddenly (poisoned by the Sultan's 

 female executioner) in the night. 



A simDar occurrence took place with the Kaid of Haha ; 

 but he had a watchful and wise mother, who watched the new 



