When I promenade a little for exercise, they immediately
turn their eyes upon me with astonishment, and some come to ask what I
do that for. I reply by signs,[17] feeling my legs and stretching them.
This proves satisfactory, for the Kailouees are apparently an active
people, at least in this season; but they moved about little while the
rain lasted, and in the middle of the day they rarely visit us--always
in the morning and in the afternoon. Dr. Overweg has got some patients;
but people generally seem to enjoy very good health in this place. We
have now a great deal of wind instead of rain: it always blows hard in
the latter part of the day. I find this weather very bracing, though the
thermometer at nine P.M. sometimes stands at 83 deg.. The rainy season may
be considered nearly at an end.
[17] It is astonishing how few of the Kailouees speak Arabic. The
few terms and expressions they are acquainted with are only
those of commerce.
The valleys and rocks of Aheer abound with several kinds of wild
animals, both the inoffensive and the ferocious; viz. the gazelle, the
wadan, the wild ox, the ostrich, the wild boar, the jackal, the wolf,
the hyaena, and the lion. Numerous birds haunt the trees. Amongst others
we noticed a very beautiful species of dove, with a very distinct black
ring round its neck; the hippoo; the wood-pecker; linnets; and over us
flew the little black-and-white bird with the long feathers in its tail.
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