JOINED BY A LARGE KAFILAH. 423 



handle with an intricate wavy pattern, and by mid- 

 day he produced an article that for elegance might 

 have vied with the most finished of the carved 

 wagers, sung for in the pastorals of some of our 

 classical poets. 



Our conversation and occupation were suddenly 

 interrupted by the arrival of the Hy Soumaulee 

 Kanlah, a numerous body, consisting of several 

 hundred camels, the original party having been 

 joined by a large number from Owssa. Fortunately 

 the new arrivals were anxious to proceed, and as 

 this feeling was participated in by us, a short 

 calahm was followed by our camels being driven 

 into camp and loaded, whilst the Hy Soumaulee 

 proceeded on their march. My mule innocently 

 enough came Avithin arms' length of me, and I 

 secured a ride to-day ; for, with an amusing 

 sagacity, when wanted in a morning at the general 

 hour of starting, she frequently contrived to have 

 made herself scarce, and thus obliged me to walk 

 when I would much rather have ridden. 



As the numerous Kanlahs now formed a little 

 army, we moved across the country, not in a single 

 file, but with an extended front. No attack in our 

 present condition therefore, was anticipated, so my 

 escort, with Ohmed Medina and myself, preceded in 

 a body. The road continued for nearly two hours 

 through a park-like country, high mimosa and other 

 trees standing in clumps of three or four together, 

 at considerable distances from each other. 



