VISIT BEDOUIN KRAAL. 363 



to see if any volunteers from the Kafilah would follow 

 me. I could hear several of the principal people 

 of Tajourah addressing me in rather an equivocal 

 manner, as I passed them, muttering " Tihebe," 

 "Tihebe," "Good," "Good," in a tone, anything 

 but expressive of being pleased at my proceedings. 



It was a longer walk than I expected, con- 

 tinuing for two hours at a very sharp pace over 

 the plain, until we came in sight of several 

 kraals, at distances of about half-a-mile from 

 each other. Towards one of these we directed our 

 steps, and as soon as we were observed, some half- 

 dozen men, and a crowd of women, and naked 

 children, issued out of the low wigwams, that were 

 clustered upon a little eminence. On one side of 

 this portable village was a large circle of loose 

 stones, in which sheep, goats, and cattle were kept ; 

 and near to it another, formed of boughs of the 

 long white- thorned mimosa, which was considered 

 a sufficient defence for the security of the camels. 



The evening's milking was about to commence ; 

 the nocks arriving just at the moment we did ; and 

 their bleating made a terrible din. On our 

 approach, the men came up to Abu Mahomed, and 

 after each had saluted him with the open hand, sliding 

 it over his, as he extended it for that purpose, they 

 very civilly came and proffered the same kind of 

 welcome to me. I was rather taken by surprise, 

 but removing my carabine to the other hand, I 

 presented my right, with all the gravity and 



