102 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XLI. 
thought of but to retrace our steps westward with 
the greatest possible expedition. 
I was lying sleepless in my tent, in a rather weak 
state, having scarcely tasted any kind of food for the 
last few days on account of my feverish state, when, 
in the latter part of the night, a great alarm was 
raised in the camp, and I heard the Arabs mount 
their horses and ride about in several detachments, 
raising their usual war-cry, " ya riyab, ya riyab f 
but I remained quietly on my mat, and was not even 
roused from my lethargical state when I received the 
intelligence that a numerous hostile army, consisting of 
the Woghda, the Medele, the Shiri, and the people of the 
Eastern Keghamma, was advancing against the camp. 
I received this news with that indifference with 
which a sick and exhausted man regards even the 
most important events. Neither did I stir when, 
with the first dawn of day on the 21st, the enemy 
having actually arrived within a short distance, 
our friends left the camp in order to offer battle. 
I heard about ten shots fired, but did not think 
that the Arabs would be beaten. Suddenly Overweg, 
who had saddled his horse at the very beginning of 
the alarm, called out anxiously to me that our friends 
were defeated, and, mounting his horse, started off at 
a gallop. My mounted servant, Bti Zed, had long 
taken to his heels ; and thus, while Mohammed was 
hastily saddling my horse, I flung my bermis over me, 
and grasping my pistols and gun, and throwing my 
double sack over the saddle, I mounted and started 
off towards the west, ordering Mohammed to cling fast 
