196 QUARRELLING AMONG THE TRADERS. [chap. y. 
claimed the right of road. Great confusion arose, and 
both parties prepared for a fight, which after the usual 
bluster died away to nothing. However, I noticed 
that my men most unmistakeably took the part of 
Mahommed Her against Ibrahim ; they belonging to 
his tribe. 
The evening arrived, and my vakeel, with his usual 
cunning, came to ask me “ whether I intended to start 
to-morrow ? ” He said there was excellent shooting in 
this neighbourhood, and that Ibrahim’s camp not being 
more than five hours’ march beyond, I could at any 
time join him, should I think proper. Many of my 
men were sullenly listening to my reply, which was, 
that we should start in company with Ibrahim. The 
men immediately turned their backs, and swaggered 
insolently to the town, muttering something that I 
could not distinctly understand. I gave orders directly, 
that no man should sleep in the town, but that all 
should be at their posts by the luggage under the tree 
that I occupied. At night several men were absent, 
and were with difficulty brought from the town by the 
vakeel. The whole of the night was passed by the 
rival parties quarrelling and fighting. At 5.30 on 
the following morning the drum of Ibrahim’s party 
beat the call, and his men with great alacrity got their 
porters together and prepared to march. My vakeel 
