Even then, however, our caravan lost
nine animals; so that the Kailouees suffer more even than we do. We were
obliged to put up with all this, and were glad enough when the Shereef
Marabout at length professed himself satisfied, and volunteered his
protection for the future.
A wild and lawless set are these borderers of Aheer. The gathering was
evidently a spontaneous one of all the blackguards of the country. Even
the marabout complains, that during the expedition he has lost his
burnouse, carpet, and fez, whilst he was saying his prayers, pious man!
and beseeching for strength to overcome the infidels! He was on his
knees, when a fellow of his troop came softly up behind, appropriated
his things, mounted his camel, and fled away--"whist," he says, like the
wind, and was soon out of sight, and appeared no more. By the way, the
three Azghers were frightened, or corrupted, in the morning, and went
over to the enemy. They change sides with fortune; and when some shots
were fired by the enemy, by way of bravado and to expedite the
conferences, one of their muskets was brought into play, and of course
my powder! I am happy to reflect, however, that they got none of the
booty this time, and have "'filed their minds" for nought.
As soon as we got back our camels we proposed to, move on, our people
evincing the greatest anxiety to get away from a place where such
disagreeable things had happened.
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