82 



IBRAHIM 



of my having witnessed the departure of Mr. 

 Cruttenden had occasioned, when these- worthies 

 came up to announce their own intention of imme- 

 diately returning to Tajourah. Ibrahim, who had a 

 raw kidney in his hand, offered part of it to me with 

 the most innocent politeness, but which I having 

 with a graceful bow declined, he handed to Cassim, 

 who made but two mouthfuls of it. They amused 

 themselves with my evident surprise at their 

 indulging in such a delicacy as they undoubtedly 

 considered it ; and having put me, as they thought, 

 into a good humour with them, proposed their return. 

 I made no observation in reply, for I was only too 

 glad to get Ibrahim away, as he very evidently 

 disliked me, and all that were of my colour. I had 

 nearly quarrelled with him the evening before, 

 through resisting his attempts to cut the leaves out 

 of a copy of Mr. M'Queen's survey of Africa, in 

 an Appendix of which was contained an extract of 

 the route through this country, from the journals 

 of Messrs. Isenberg and Krapf, and which I had 

 been comparing with the accounts I was receiving 

 of the road from the natives who surrounded me. 

 Upon learning that the account was that of the 

 missionaries, Ibrahim, for some reason or other, 

 drew his knife, and stated his intention of cutting 

 the book up, but upon my putting it immediately 

 into my saddle-bag, with a very significant expres- 

 sion, the by-standers took Ibrahim away. To all 

 appearance, the circumstance was soon forgotten, 



