SUSPICIOUS GUESTS OUR CAMELS STOLEN. 229 
I wrote by him to Government, and to my wife. 
In the evening, when it was nearly dusk, five 
mounted men made their appearance, two of them 
leading six empty camels. We did not like the 
looks of them, but they gave a tolerable account of 
themselves. 
I treated them to supper — in fact, 1 am obliged 
to feed all strangers, as well as a good number of 
the caravan. Of feeding these people, as of giving 
them presents, verily there is no end. To travel 
comfortably in the desert, it would be necessary to 
possess Fortunatus' purse or Aladdin's lamp. 
During the night these strange fellows disap- 
peared, which circumstance naturally aroused our 
suspicions. About two in the morning the Kai- 
louees, wishing to start early, began to bustle about 
in the dark, in order to collect their camels. They 
could not find any of them. Great was the conster- 
nation. The Tan elk urns instantly ran to their 
drove, of which three only were missing, and ours 
also were found to be safe. They have driven the 
camels off", in order to prevent our progress, and 
give time to the enemy to come up. 
24^/i. — We naturally passed the remainder of the 
night in the greatest anxiety of mind, feeling sure that 
a crisis was now approaching. At about six in the 
morning, four men, mounted on maharees, came rid- 
ing towards us, and drawing near, boldly summoned 
our escort to deliver up the Christians, with all their 
baggage and camels. The insolence of this small 
