i§2 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Hassan, too, was mounted on horfeback, with about a 

 hundred of his myrmidons, and a number of Arabs on foot. 

 He fent me word that I was to advance, with only two fer- 

 vants ; but I returned for anfwer, that I had no intention to 

 advance at all ; that if he had any bufinefs, he mould fay 

 fo, and that I would meet him one to one, or three to fix, 

 juft as he pleafed. He fent me again word, that he wanted 

 to communicate the intelligence he had of the Atouni, to 

 put me on my guard. I returned for anfwer, that I was al- 

 ready upon my guard, againft all thieves, and did not make 

 tiny diftinclion, if people were thieves themfelves, or en- 

 couraged others to be fo, or whether they were Atouni or 

 Ababde. He then fent me a meffage, that it was a cold 

 morning, and wifhed I would give him a difh of coffee, 

 and keep thofe ftrangers away. I therefore defired one of 

 my fervants to bring the coffee-pot, and directing my people 

 to fit down, I rode up to him, and dismounted, as he did alfo, 

 when twenty or thirty of his vagabonds came, and fat 

 down likewife. He faid he was exceedingly furprifed, after 

 fending to me laft night, that I did not come to him ; that 

 the whole camp was in murmur at beating the man, and 

 that it was all that he could do to hinder his foldiers from 

 falling upon us, and extirpating us all at once ; that I did 

 wrong to protect thofe Turks, who carried always money 

 to Mecca for merchandife, and defrauded them of their dues. 



My fervant having juft poured out a difh of coffee to give 

 him, I faid, Stay, Sir, till we know whether we are in peace. 

 Sidi HafTan, if that is the way of levying dues upon the 

 Turks, to fend thieves to rob them in my tent, you fhould 

 advife me nrfl of it, and then we mould have fettled the 

 bufinefs. With regard to your preventing people from 



murdering 



