SOUDAN CARAVAN. 
199 
have had some threatening symptoms of ill-health ; 
not very serious, perhaps, to a person surrounded 
with any of the comforts of civilisation, but much so 
to one in my position. Besides, despite my en- 
deavours to disbelieve the dangers with which we 
are said to be menaced from lawless freebooters, it is 
difficult to disregard them so far as to remain per- 
fectly impassive. 
My Kailouee friends do not seem to share our 
apprehensions. Sometimes this circumstance cheers 
me ; at others it suggests the idea that they may be 
in' league with their brethren. Let us hope not. 
At any rate I am still displeased with them on ac- 
count of their shabby conduct, and disposed, perhaps, 
to look at them more unfavourably than they 
deserve. 
A man came over the hills to our right in the 
course of the day. He belonged to the Soudan 
caravan, the great body of which was passing at no 
great distance by another road. Our presence does 
not seem to be agreeable to such of these peo- 
ple as derive no profit from it. This individual, 
in his own name and that of his companions, insists 
that we Christians must not be allowed to enter the 
City of Marabouts, the Holy City of Aheer. Many 
Musulman countries of the interior have their holy 
cities. Perhaps this worthy man made these obser- 
vations because he had nothing else to say. At any 
rate, having expressed his opinion, he went off. 
I regretted his churlish warning ; but his presence. 
