Chap. XXVI. 
CURIOUS TALISMAN". 
183 
Kan 6 to Kiikawa are nothing but small paths leading 
from one village or from one town to another, I 
could not well dispense with a guide. As regards 
security, I could onfy rely upon Providence and my 
own courage. 
Having in vain searched for my man, I loaded the 
camels, and mounting my horse, proceeded to the 
residence of the governor, who is the vassal of the 
ruler of Mash en a. He, having been informed by his 
servants, soon came forth, a tall imposing figure, and 
seeing that my complaint was just, his liege lord 
having expressly assigned me the horseman in order 
to conduct me to Biindi, he assured me that he would 
find another guide for me ; but as it would take some 
time, he ordered one of his servants to lead me out of 
the town to a place where the camels meanwhile 
might graze a little. Seeing that he was a just and 
intelligent man, I thanked him for his kindness, and 
followed his servant, who conducted us a few hun- 
dred yards from the town, where there was most ex- 
cellent pasturage for the camels, 
While we were waiting here for the guide, my com- 
panion, who was a sociable sort of man, helped me to 
pass the time most agreeably with his instructive talk. 
I had observed a very curious object at the governor's 
house, —a leathern parcel of considerable dimensions, 
tied up with great care and hung on a long pole, and 
I had fancied that it contained the body of a criminal 
exposed there to every man's sight as a warning 
example of severe punishment; but to my great 
w 4 
