68 THE LAST DAY. 



Mr. Cruttenden and myself were hard at work 

 with our needles for two days previous to the start, 

 he kindly undertaking to manufacture a skin-case 

 for my watch, pocket-compass, and ammunition ; 

 whilst I attempted to vie with him in his workman- 

 ship by stitching together two strips of ox-hide into a 

 belt, which, for want of the necessary buckles, was 

 made to button in front. To this the sheath of my 

 Adal knife, or dagger, was secured, as also a little 

 bag for caps and bullets. When finished, the Sultaun 

 very graciously pronounced the belt to be a very 

 creditable effort of genius, with which encomium I 

 felt highly flattered. 



March 21th, the last day in Tajourah. — The 

 night before, all the boxes were taken to the open 

 place beyond the little stone mosque in the rear of 

 the Sultaun's house, preparatory for the grand start 

 to our first halt this day, which I was positively 

 informed would be at the distance of at least 

 seven miles. It was not until late in the afternoon, 

 that I was called to witness the camels loaded for 

 the first time, and to count them, as they one by 

 one proceeded on their march. Mr. Cruttenden 

 w r as present to take farewell; and a whole circle 

 of the principal hukells of the town, who here 

 held their last calahm, to place me particularly 

 under the care of Ohmed Mahomed, the brother of 

 Cassim and Mahomed, or as he was commonly 

 called Ebin Izaak, the son of Izaak, upon whom 

 jointly now devolved the charge of the Kafilah and 



