chap. V.] TOO “ WIDE AWAKE? 235 
that had accumulated outside the town began to 
disperse. 
The morning broke and saw the men still under 
arms, but the excitement had passed. The women 
soon reappeared with their water-jars as usual, but 
on this occasion they were perfectly unmolested by 
the Turks, who, having passed the night in momentary 
expectation of an attack, were now upon their best 
behaviour. However, I heard them muttering among 
themselves, “Wait until Ibrahim returns with rein¬ 
forcements and ammunition, and w T e will pay the 
Latookas for last night.” 
The town filled; and the Latookas behaved as 
though nothing out of the common had occurred; but 
when questioned, they coolly confessed that they had 
intended to surprise us, but that we were too “ wide 
awake.” It is extraordinary that these fellows are so 
stupid as to beat the drum or nogara before the attack, 
as it naturally gives the alarm, and renders a surprise 
impossible; nevertheless, the war-drum is always a 
preliminary step to hostilities. 
I now resolved to camp outside the town, so as not 
to be mixed up in any way with the Turks, whose 
presence was certain to create enmity. Accordingly 
I engaged a number of natives to cut thorns, and to 
make a zareeba, or camp, about four hundred yards 
