INTERESTING OCCUPATION. 453 



quiet and deep sleep came wholly over this so lately 

 life-stirring scene. I had laid myself down in my 

 hut, and was just concluding in my mind that it 

 would be the wisest thing I could do to follow the 

 example of my wild companions, and go to sleep, 

 when a low buzzing noise attracted my attention, 

 and I got up very quietly to see from whence it 

 proceeded. Although endeavouring to conceal 

 themselves in the dark shadow of a large pile of salt, 

 I could make out by the light of the moon, Ohmed 

 Mahomed, Ebin Izaac, and Zaido, taking stock as it 

 were, measuring very carefully by cubits, the remnants 

 and remaining pieces of blue calico. Occasionally, 

 a cautiously made long tear told of a division between 

 them, of what had not been given away as presents on 

 the road ; in fact, they were sharing the perquisites of 

 the office of Has ul Kafilah, as agreed upon in Taj ourah. 

 They seemed to be also enjoying a quiet 

 cup of coffee ; for the long-necked globular 

 pipkin, in which it was usual to boil that 

 berry, stood in the broad moonlight, and was fre- 

 quently applied to. I sat down in the shade of my 

 own hut, and amused myself watching them until 

 every piece of cloth had been duly measured and 

 divided, the last drop of coffee strained through the 

 bit of dried grass stuffed in the mouth of the bottle- 

 shaped coffee-pot, and their conversation upon 

 profit and loss had been adjourned until another 

 night. Then cautiously retiring to their rest, they 

 stretched themselves upon their mats laid upon the 



