GHAP. y.] 
THE TURKS’ SALUTE. 
131 
own hide, was quickly performed, and with Bicharn’s 
assistance I slung it across my saddle, and led my horse, 
thus heavily laden, towards the path. . . After some 
difficulty in crossing muddy hollows and gullies in the 
otherwise dried marsh,we at length succeeded in finding 
the tracks of the party that had gone on ahead. 
We had been steering from Ellyria due east towards 
the high peak of “ Gebel Lafeet,” that rose exactly 
above one of the principal towns of Latooka. With 
this fine beacon now apparently just before us, we had 
no difficulty in finding our way. The country was 
now more open, and the ground sandy and interspersed 
with the hegleek trees, which gave it the appearance 
of a vast orchard of large pear trees. The “ hegleek ” 
is peculiarly rich in potash; so much so that the ashes 
of the burnt wood will blister the tongue. It bears a 
fruit about the size and shape of a date;—this is very 
sweet and aromatic in flavour, and is also so rich in 
potash that it is used as a substitute for soap. 
After an hours walk always on the tracks of the 
party, we saw a large Latooka town in the distance, 
and upon a nearer approach we discovered crowds of 
people collected under two enormous trees. Presently 
guns fired, the drums beat, and as we drew nearer we 
perceived the Turkish flags leading a crowd of about a 
hundred men, who approached us with the usual salutes, 
every man firing off ball cartridge as fast as he could 
reload. My men were already with this lot of raga¬ 
muffins, and this was the ivory or slave trading party 
that they had conspired to join. They were marching 
towards me to honour me with a salute, which, upon 
close approach, ended by their holding their guns 
muzzle downwards, and firing them almost into my 
feet. I at once saw through their object in giving me 
this reception ;—They had already heard from the other 
party exaggerated accounts of presents that their leader 
had received, and they were jealous at the fact of my 
having established confidence with a party opposed to 
them. The vakeel of Chenooda was the man who 
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