300 QUARRELS WITH THE LATO OK AS. [chap. yiii. 
expected miraculous cures for the most incurable 
diseases. 
In this manner I gained a certain influence over the 
people, but I was constantly subjected to excessive 
annoyances and disgust, occasioned by the conduct of 
their party towards the Latookas. The latter were 
extremely unwise, being very independent and ready 
to take offence on the slightest pretext, and the Turks, 
being now 140 strong, had no fear, and there appeared 
every probability of hostilities. I was engaged in 
erecting huts, and in securing my camp ; and although 
I offered high payment, I could not prevail on the 
natives to work regularly. They invariably stipulated 
that they were to receive their beads before they com¬ 
menced work, in which case they, with few exceptions, 
absconded with their advanced payment. 
One day a native behaved in a similar manner to 
the Turks * he was, accordingly, caught, and unmer¬ 
cifully beaten. Half an hour after, the nogara beat, 
and was answered by distant drums from the adjacent 
villages. In about an hour, several thousand armed 
men, with shields, were collected within half a mile of 
the Turks’ camp, to avenge the insult that had been 
offered to one of their tribe. However, the Turks’ 
drum beat, and their whole force drew up to their flag 
under arms outside their zareeba, and offered a deter- 
