318 SCENE WITH OHMED MAHOMED. 



roosted for the night, in the branches of an aditu 

 tree very near to the camp. Having only one 

 barrel loaded with shot, the other containing a ball 

 I sent the latter, first among the crowd of birds, 

 not above twenty yards from me, and killed three, 

 following it up by pouring in the shot, which 

 brought down four more of the scared fugitives. 



All had their throats cut before they were quite 

 dead, each bird having three or four assistant 

 executioners to settle its business, although numbers 

 rather delayed than accelerated the operation, 

 which Ohmed Medina consecrated, by bawiing out 

 from his prayer-mat the necessary "Allah achbar ! " 

 "Allah achbar!" 



Ohmed Mahomed, who had become very civil the 

 last day or two, visited my hut in the evening, and 

 I had some conversation with him relative to our 

 starting the next day, and sounded his intentions 

 by remarking, that here was plenty of forage and 

 excellent water. " Good, Good," replied Ohmed, 

 pointing to the camels ; and then, with hands spread 

 some distance from his stomach, intimated how well 

 distended the animals seemed to be with food. I 

 shook my head, telling him I was very sorry to see 

 it, for where forage was abundant, there our stay 

 was sure to be long. Ohmed Mahomed, to close 

 the dialogue, and get away, responded, "Eh wall, 

 ehwah " (yes, yes); " Jimel, big-belly," making signs; 

 " Jimel, carry big box. Jimel, little-belly," screwing 

 himself up. " Jimel, carry marfish" (nothing). The 



