10 PREPARE TO RETURN TO ADEN. - 



prayer, performing their ablutions. At small aper- 

 tures along the lower edge of the screen, close to 

 the ground, were frequently to be seen rows of 

 white teeth of startling extent, as the amused slave 

 girl and female branches of the royal family sought 

 to gratify their curiosity by taking sly peeps at the 

 Engreez whenever they visited the Sultaun. The 

 law court, if it may be so termed, was nothing more 

 than an expansion of the lane in the front of the 

 Sultan's residence, carefully strewed with the small 

 pebbly shingle of the neighbouring beach. In form it 

 was oblong, and around it were placed several large 

 stones, an old ship beam, and a trunk of the date 

 tree, to serve for the seats of the principal men of 

 the town on occasions of their public kaiahims or 

 councils, which were always held in this place. The 

 Sultaun generally presided over these assemblies, his 

 chief business being to distribute the coffee, which 

 was rather stingily supplied to the parties present. 



Capt. Young having succeeded in his endeavour 

 to forward the despatches, this being undertaken by 

 the son of my friend Isaak, on payment of seventy 

 dollars, made immediate preparations for returning 

 to Aden, in order to report the unsafe character of 

 the road, and the disinclination of the Tajourah 

 people to forward the stores to Shoa. I, of course, 

 felt much disappointed ; but could not object to the 

 reasonableness of the only course that could be 

 taken, and made up my mind to remain in Aden 

 until a better opportunity should be afforded me of 



