selves to the last.

Whilst we were parleying with them, a troop of about forty men, mounted
on their fleet maharees, and equipped for war with spears, shields, and
swords, came trotting rapidly over the hills, hallooing with wild cries,
and challenging our caravan to battle. When the first few moments of
surprise had subsided, two-thirds of our caravan, armed with matchlocks,
pistols, and swords, advanced in a body, and shouted out that they
accepted the challenge. This bold movement staggered the assailants, who
forthwith began to waver and retire. They had evidently expected to
overawe us by boasting. Our people, satisfied with the effect of their
manoeuvre, retired slowly towards the encampment. Presently a small body
of the enemy advanced as a deputation, demanding to parley, and
declaring that they did not come to fight against people of their own
faith. The remainder pretended to march and countermarch along the hills
on either hand, as if to hem us in completely, but kept at a respectful
distance. They saw that we were too strong for them, but called out that
they would go and fetch more people.

The conferences were now fairly opened, and we found that the hostile
troop was composed of a collection of all the Sheikhs of the
neighbouring districts, with their followers, and several regular
bandits, countenanced by a Shereef Marabout. Our people understood at
once that the affair was far more serious than they had anticipated, and
began to be downhearted. They knew that they could not proceed without
their camels, and from their expressions and looks I could foresee that
the matter at last would have to be ended by a compromise.

The enemy made various propositions, more or less agreeable to our ears.
The first was simply that we, as infidels, should be given up to be put
to death--an idea which, luckily, nobody seemed to consider proper or
feasible. They then insisted that we should pass on no further, but
should return by the way we had come--also declined. Next, they demanded
that we should become Muslims--a proposition which our people refused
even to mention to us. Finally, they coolly asked for half our goods and
baggage,--no doubt their ultimate object.

When they found that we would not agree to any of their proposals, but
were determined rather to resist by the strong hand, a compromise was
agreed upon. We paid them in goods to the value of three hundred and
fifty reals, or about fifty pounds sterling