336 IMPORTUNITY OF THE BEDOUINS. 



but as all of them were friends and relations of the 

 party who accompanied ns from Bundurah, they 

 evinced no feeling of dissatisfaction at our presence. 

 All were plentifully feasted by Ohmed Mahomed, 

 and in the evening received presents of blue sood 

 and tobacco. By a clever stroke of policy, an 

 expectation was raised among these, that an 

 additional escort would be required to travel with 

 safety across the disturbed district for two or three 

 days' march on this side of the Hawash, which had 

 not been traversed by any Kafilah since the large 

 one of Mahomed Allee had come down from Shoa. 

 Hopes were thus held out that the first comers of 

 the Wahama would be selected to perform this 

 service, and it then became their interest, of course, 

 that we should first pass unmolested through their 

 own country. 



They were continually applying to me for some- 

 thing or other, but I had now got pretty well 

 accustomed to their natural expectation, and by a 

 corresponding bestowal of next to nothing, held out 

 a warning intimation, that should they apply again 

 they must not be surprised at having arrived at the 

 very negative point in the diminishing scale of my 

 worthless gifts. One great advantage also, arising 

 from small presents is, that they are not so osten- 

 tatiously displayed by the receiver as are large 

 ones, and others have therefore less inducement 

 to apply for similar proofs of the traveller's 

 generosity. 



