Chap.lxxi. indications of a political storm. 51 
bestowed upon him, the eldest brother of the family 
upon whose good-will, under the present circum- 
stances, a great deal depended. 
Thus approached the 27th of February, when the 
real character of the mission from Hamda-Allahi, 
of which Hamedu had only been the forerunner, 
was disclosed. Having been in a lazy and rather 
melancholy mood the whole day, I was reclining on 
my simple couch in the evening, Vv^hen I was surprised 
by the Sheikh's nephcAv entering abruptly, and, al- 
though betraying by his sad and serious countenance 
that something very grave oppressed his mind, yet 
squatting silently down without being able or feeling 
inclined to say a word. Scarcely had he left me, 
when my Tawdti friend, Mohammed el *Aish, who 
continued to show me a great deal of kindness and 
sympathy, called me into the Sheikh's presence. 
I was ushered in with great precaution through the 
hall and up the narrow winding staircase, and found 
the three brothers in the terrace-room engaged in 
serious consultation. 
After I had taken my seat, they informed me that 
the FuUan were making a last attempt against my 
safety, and that, together with Kauri, the former 
emir, a distinguished nobleman of the name of Mo- 
hammed el Ferreji, had arrived in Kabara accom- 
panied by a troop of about one hundred men, and 
that the latter messenger had addressed to my host 
two letters of very different character and tenour, 
one being full of manifestations of friendship, and the 
E 2 
