the night; in fact, he would have taken up his quarters with us over Sunday. We found that Oriental hospitality had its embarrassments as well as its pleasures. We were put to our wits to know how to get rid of this ponderous creature. Of course it must be done with strict regard to courtesy. A happy thought struck us, and we called the dragoman to our relief: "Yohanna, could you not invite the Governor into your quarters?" He took in the situation in an instant, and advancing in the blandest manner, requested the honor of his Excellency's presence in the adjoining tent, to partake of coffee and smoke the chibouque. The temptation was too powerful to be resisted. The old man found his legs, which were curled up somewhere under him, and waddled off. Half an hour after we saw him in the next tent, with wreaths of smoke curling round his head, and a serene self-complacency on his broad features, like a smile on the face of a Chinese idol.
Towards evening a file of soldiers marched down from the fort with military step, and took their places in front of our tents to be our protectors for the night. We bade them welcome, and directed that they be treated with hospitality. They soon made friends with our Arabs, and stacking their guns, are now sitting round the camp-fire, smoking their pipes. Thus guarded by Moslem soldiers, on a spot which is every year overspread with the vast Moslem camp, we sleep to-night, as if we were a couple of dervishes on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
