PEACE CONCLUDED. 105 



We did not stir from our position whilst the sun 

 was up, but kept sitting in a very uncomfortable 

 posture for me, some time even after it had set, 

 when Ohmed Mahomed, touching my elbow, inti- 

 mated I could go to my hut, for pointing to the 

 men opposed to us, with a significant laugh, he 

 said, " they are very good friends." Zaido and 

 Allee accompanied me to my hut, but the rest of 

 the Kafilah remained in the same squatting position 

 until after nine o'clock, by which time a peace had 

 been made, and sworn to upon the Koran, between 

 us and the Bedouins, a safe conduct being given to 

 the Kafilah through their country, which extended to 

 the Bahr-assal, by a regular official-like document, 

 drawn up in Arabic. 



The present required by the chief was exceed- 

 ingly moderate ; three pieces of blue Surat cotton 

 cloth to distribute among the tribe, being all that 

 was asked for. At my request, one bag of rice was 

 subsequently divided among some of the principal 

 people, as an extraordinary present on the occasion 

 of an Engreez coming into their country. All 

 being settled most satisfactorily to myself, and to 

 every one else, I got my rice supper, and slept the 

 remainder of the night as soundlv on the hard irre- 

 gular surface of the rocky ground as if reposing on 

 the softest couch. It is the excitement occasioned 

 by scenes similar to the one I have endeavoured to 

 describe, which gives a zest to desert life, besides 

 the consciousness of having escaped a great peril 



