DEATH OF SNAY, AN ARAB CHIEF. 
53 
the real heir to uphold the puppet appointed by them 
in his stead. They had killed 300 natives, seized all 
their cattle and goats, and lost two Arabs and sixty 
slaves. A severe defeat occurred while we were there, 
Snay, the chief Arab, and six others, with followers, 
being killed. A panic ensued, and Speke was requested 
to patch up a peace by inviting the rebel Manua Sera 
into Kazeh to attend a conference. "Once," they 
said, " at our mercy, we can murder him ! " We were 
shocked at hearing this, but Moossah assured us that it 
was no uncommon occurrence with them. The news 
of their defeat was brought us by a man who may be 
allowed to tell his own story : — " I was one of five in 
charge of cattle ; the rebel himself killed three of us ; 
and as I never fight, but run, I threw away every- 
thing, and saved my life by coming here." He had a 
very good sword by him. " Where did you get that 
sword ? " " Oh ! it belongs to an Arab who was 
killed ; I picked it up." 
It seems that Snay was a very brave fellow, who 
in the midst of every fight whipped his slaves to pre- 
vent them from running away ; but this time they 
got dispersed after plunder: he was left unprotected; 
and being old and too proud to run like his slaves, 
he fell a victim. After this severe defeat many 
plans were proposed for affording relief. "The 
single cannon must be sent in the morning." Moos- 
sah was tired of assisting them. " The Arabs stick at 
nothing; they had expended twenty barrels of his gun- 
powder and lost him five slaves ; a beautiful gun of his 
was lost by his late partner Jafflr in this last fight. 
Jaffir had just been killed, and yet they still ask for 
aid ! " So with true Indian parsimony he despatched 
