chap , iv.] CROSS-EXAMINATION. 109 
Arabic. I was delighted to find an interpreter, and 
requesting him to tell the crowd to stand back, I 
inquired for their chief. The humpback spoke very 
little Arabic, nor did the crowd appear to heed him, 
but they immediately stole a spear that one of my 
Latooka guides had placed against the tree under 
which we were sitting. It was getting rather un¬ 
pleasant ; but having my revolver and a double- 
barrelled rifle in my hands, there was no fear of their 
being stolen. 
In reply to a question to the humpback, he asked 
me “ Who I was ? ” I explained that I was a traveller. 
“ You want ivory ?” he said. “ No,” I answered, “ it 
is of no use to me.” “ Ah, you want slaves! ” he 
replied. “ Neither do I want slaves,” I answered. 
This was followed by a burst of laughter from the 
crowd, and the humpback continued his examination. 
“Have you got plenty of cows'?” “Not one; but 
plenty of beads and copper.” “ Plenty ? Where are 
they ? ” “ Not far off; they will be here presently 
with my men ; ” and I pointed to the direction from 
which they would arrive. “What countryman are 
you ? ” “ An Englishman.” He had never heard of 
such people. “You are a Turk?” “All right,” I 
replied; “ I am anything you like.” “ And that is 
your son ? ” (pointing at Mrs. Baker.) “ No, she is 
my wife.” “ Your wife ! What a lie ! He is a boy.” 
“ Not a bit of it,” I replied; “ she is my wife, who has 
come with me to see the women of this country.” 
“What a lie!” he again politely rejoined in the one 
expressive Arabic word, “ Katab.” 
After this charmingly frank conversation he addressed 
the crowd, explaining, I suppose, that I was endea¬ 
vouring to pass off a boy for a woman. Mrs. Baker 
was dressed similar to myself in a pair of loose trousers 
and gaiters, with a blouse and belt—the only difference 
being that she wore long sleeves, while my arms were 
bare from a few inches below the shoulder. I always 
kept my arms bare as being cooler than if covered. 
