302 DESIRE TO PROCEED. 



question discussed was, whether we should remain 

 until they were well enough to join us, or go on at 

 once, and take our chance, with respect to the 

 resentment of their tribe. I was not sorry that it 

 was determined to proceed ; and from that day I 

 became of considerable consequence, for my 

 presence with fire-arms had principally induced the 

 chief men of the Kanlah to consent to the impa- 

 tient onward move of the Hy Soumaulee, who, 

 having no property to lose, had no objection to 

 accelerate the crisis ; suspense, to them, being a 

 most intolerable bore. They soon found out that 

 I shared the same feeling with them, for I was 

 getting heartily tired, of my sojourn in the 

 wilderness ; and the poetical sentiment, 



" Oh ! that the desert was niy dwelling-place," 



now found no echo in the wishes, or desires, of my 

 heart. Frequently did they solicit Ohmed Medina 

 to start off with me, and accompanied by them, 

 leave the Kanlah to come on afterwards, however 

 it could ; and, for fear I might be influenced by 

 such requests, Ohmed Mahomed became as polite 

 as possible; and found (quite by accident, of 

 course, but very much to my delight) a large 

 goat-skin bag full of rice, which he very gravely 

 asserted had not formed any part of my own store, 

 but was some of his friend Himyah's, who was 

 taking it up as a present to the frontier governor 

 of Efat, the Wallasma Mahomed, but, at his 



