INCIDENTS OF THE CONFERENCES. 
237 
sum of money ! " Children of the desert, you are 
not the only ones who make a demand for con- 
science sake, and then compound for cash ! 
We only afterwards learned how this negotia- 
tion was carried on with the enemy. Some dra- 
matic scenes were reported to us by our servants 
as occurring between our escort and the assailing 
troop, mixed with marabouts. En-Noor, on re- 
turning from us after we had declared that we 
would die for our religion^ drew his sword and cast 
it on the ground before the people, calling out to 
the other Kailouees, " Come now, let us all die with 
the Christians ! " On the other hand, the fiercest 
of the enemy every now and then got up and made 
as if they would rush at once and spear us in our 
tents. Then there was reasoning of every descrip- 
tion, and tremendous quotations from the Koran. 
The most humane proposed that we should have ten 
days' grace to reflect on our situation before we 
were put to death. Our servants, who behaved 
well all through this trying business, made a reason- 
able proposition, that we should be taken to Tin- 
talous to the great Sultan En-Noor, who should 
decide upon our case. But this did not suit the 
purpose of these pious propagandists of the Muslim 
faith, who swore that the book ordered them to 
slaughter the unbelievers, and at length were gra- 
ciously pleased to accept the sum of thirty-five 
pounds sterling in goods ! 
21th. — In the morning we wished to start at 
