Chap. LV. 
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. 
87 
through a more hilly country, several divisions of the 
salt-caravan were encamped ; and we chose our camp- 
ing ground near a troop of native traders, or fataki. 
While we were pitching the tent, a Tarki or Amoshagh, 
mounted on horseback, came slowly up to us, apparently 
astonished at the peculiar character of the tent, which 
he seemed to recognise as an old acquaintance. But he 
was still more surprised when he recognised myself ; for 
he was no other than Agha Bature the son of Ibrahim, 
from Selufiyet, the chief instigator of the foray made 
against us at the time of our entering A'ir or A'sben, 
by the border tribes of that country. 
In the depression of the plain towards the south 
from our encampment, where all the moisture of the 
district collected, cotton was cultivated to a great 
extent, while adjoining the village, which lay close 
to a ridge of granite, a small field of tobacco 
was to be seen. A petty market, which was held 
here, enabled us to provide ourselves with grain, 
poultry, and red pepper, as we had forgotten to lay 
in a store of the latter article, which is indispensable 
to travellers in hot countries. 
The district through which we passed Monday, 
was densely inhabited, but it was rather Januai T 31st - 
scantily timbered, the ground being clad only with 
short underwood ; detached hills were seen now and 
then ; but after a march of about seven miles, the 
character of the country changed, kalgo appearing 
more frequently, while the soil consisted of deep sand. 
Towards the south the vegetation was richer, several 
G 4 
