CHAP. IV.] 
PEACE ESTABLISHED. 
117 
be able to assist him materially by discovering new 
countries rich in ivory, and that he would benefit 
himself personally by civil conduct. 
He seemed confused, and wavered. I immediately 
promised him a new double-barrelled gun and some 
gold, when my party should arrive, as an earnest of 
the future. 
He replied, “ That he did not himself wish to be 
hostile, but that all the trading parties, without one 
exception, were against me, and that the men were 
convinced that I was a consul in disguise, who would 
report to the authorities at Khartoum all the pro¬ 
ceedings of the traders.” He continued, “ That he 
believed me, but that his men would not; that all 
people told lies in their country, therefore no one was 
credited for the truth. However,” said he, “ do not 
associate with my people, or they may insult you, but 
go and take possession of that large tree (pointing to 
one in the valley of Ellyria) for yourself and people, 
and I will come there and speak with you. I will now 
join my men, as I do not wish them to know that 
I have been conversing with you.” He then made 
a salaam, mounted his donkey, and rode off. 
I had won him. I knew the Arab character so 
thoroughly that I was convinced that the tree he 
had pointed out, followed by the words, “ I will come 
there and speak with you,” was to be the rendezvous 
for the receipt of the promised gun and money. 
I did not wait for the arrival of my men, but 
mounting our horses, my wife and I rode down the 
hillside with lighter spirits than we had enjoyed for 
some time past. I gave her the entire credit of the 
“ruse.” Had I been alone, I should have been too 
proud to have sought the friendship of the sullen 
trader, and the moment on which success depended 
would have been lost. 
On arrival at the grassy plain, at the foot of the 
mountain, there was a crowd of the trader s ruffians 
quarrelling for the shade of the few large trees that 
