334 ONE OF THE NEW COMERS 



slave children besides. Subsequently, however, I 

 found that only one of the former was murdered, 

 the other two being protected, and ultimately con- 

 veyed safe to Shoa by tribes to which they had fled 

 immediately the attack was made by the Takale. 



In return for their information, we gave them all 

 the news from Berberah and Tajourah, besides a 

 detailed account of every march we had made from 

 the latter place. Ohmed Medina was spokesman 

 on this occasion, and went through the long state- 

 ment as quietly and regularly as if reading it out of 

 a logbook. All this introductory conversation 

 being got over, coffee and general talking came 

 in together. I being very tired, and not under- 

 standing a word of what they were saying, soon fell 

 asleep upon the ground, between Ebin Izaak and 

 Ohmed Medina, nor was I disturbed in my long nap 

 until an intimation from the latter, asking me if 

 I were going to join in the assair, or afternoon's 

 prayer, was a hint for me to retire to my hut. 



After prayers, I had a curious application from 

 one of the strangers, who required an amulet or 

 charm of such a nature that would insure him 

 offspring, that he might see sons and daughters 

 rising around him, and that he should not go down 

 childless to the grave. It was no use protesting 

 my inability to give him anything of the sort, or 

 that I possessed no power to effect for him the 

 desires of his heart. He was convinced I could, 

 and as he refused to be satisfied with my advice to 



