PROGRESS OF A FIGHT. 277 



Dankalli tribes. When two hostile bodies of 

 these people meet, it is not usual for the whole to 

 engage, but sitting down in two opposite lines at 

 the distance of sixty or eighty yards from each 

 other, they await the result, produced by the 

 yelling, jumping, and speechifying of their leaders, 

 who for this purpose stand up immediately in 

 front of their men. 



At the intended attack upon our Kafilah at 

 Wadalissan, by the Bursane Bedouins, Garahmee, 

 in addition to his duty of keeping the people 

 squatting upon their heels, evidently recited some 

 martial song, or speech, which at intervals, was 

 responded to with loud yells, and shaking of the 

 spears in the direction of the enemy. 



A few becoming sufficiently excited by these 

 means, they rush from either side into the inter- 

 vening space. The combat then commences, by 

 each of these singling out his opponent and squat- 

 ting opposite to him, in their usual attitude, at the 

 distance of a few yards. Balancing their spears in 

 a threatening manner, they spar at each other 

 for several minutes, until one conceives he has a 

 favourable opportunity of launching his spear, 

 when, springing to his feet, he darts it with great 

 force and precision. Seldom, however, any injury 

 is thus produced, for his wary antagonist, with 

 his shield, dashes it aside, and then endeavours 

 to break by jumping and stamping upon it, as it 

 lies upon the ground. He, in his turn, threatens 



