Chap. XXXIX. ARRIVAL AT THE ARAB CAMP. 
59 
rode on negligently, and soon became aware that they 
had missed the track. There now began a very dis- 
orderly riding in all directions. This fatigued me 
greatly, for nothing is so vexing to a weak man as to 
ramble about without knowing when he is likely to 
reach the place of repose so much looked for. After 
sending scout after scout, we at length found the 
track, and reached our men in the dark. 
Having set out early, after nearly two Wednesday> 
hours' ride we were met by a single horse- 0ctober lst - 
man coming towards us from the encampment of the 
Welad Sliman, and bidding us welcome to their wild 
country. They kept starting up from the thicket 
on our right and left, firing their muskets and sa- 
luting us with their usual war-cry "ya riyab, ya 
riyab." Having thus advanced for about half an 
hour, we came to a halt, in order to receive in a more 
solemn form the warlike compliments of a larger troop 
of horsemen, led on by a person of some importance. 
The dust raised by the horsemen having subsided a 
little, and the country being clearer of wood, we now 
saw before us the whole cavalry of the Welad Sliman 
drawn up in a line in their best attire, their chief 
Ghet the son of Sef el Nasr ben Ghet, and his uncle 
'Omar the son of Ghet and brother of 'Abd el Jelil, in 
the midst of them. This stately reception, not having 
been anticipated by Overweg and myself, made a 
great impression upon us ; but we were not left to 
gaze long, but were desired by our Arab companions 
to ride in advance of the line in compliment to 
