Page:First Footsteps in East Africa, 1894 - Volume 1.djvu/149

 be defended from such a calamity. The effect was such that I determined always to cany a barrel loaded with shot as the best answer for all who might object to "Faranj." We spent our day in the hut after the normal manner, with a crowd of woolly-headed Bedouins squatting perseveringly opposite our quarters, spear in hand, with eyes fixed upon every gesture. Before noon the door- mat was let down,--a precaution also adopted whenever box or package was opened,--we drank milk and ate rice with "a kitchen" of Kawurmah. About midday the crowd retired to sleep; my companions followed their example, and I took the opportunity of sketching and jotting down notes. [21] Early in the afternoon the Bedouins returned, and resumed their mute form of pleading for tobacco: each man, as he received a handful, rose slowly from his hams and went his way. The senior who disliked the gun was importunate for a charm to cure his sick camel: having obtained it, he blessed us in a set speech, which lasted at least half an hour, and concluded with spitting upon the whole party for good luck. [22] It is always well to encourage these Nestors; they are regarded with the greatest reverence by the tribes, who believe that "old experience doth attain To something like prophetic strain;"