Page:Suakin, 1885.djvu/66

 Bengalees, Scindees, Pathans, Hindoos, and sundry others.

The Aden drivers, Soumalis, with the camels from Berbers, were hardy fellows, and of course well used to the climate, caring as little for the sun as the Arabs themselves. You would see them going along with their camels during the hottest hours of the day with no covering to their shaven heads, and no garments except the white cloth round their waists.

It was curious to count up the number of different languages one heard spoken in and, about Suakin at this time. Besides English, French, Portuguese, and Italian, there were amongst others the following; Turkish, Arabic, Somali, Greek, Armenian, Hindustani, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali, Mahrathi, and Fukhtu.

There was another native Indian corps—the Bhisti corps, water-carriers, composed mostly of Punjabee Mussulmans and Punjabee Hindoos. These were capital fellows to work, and did good service.

We often used to talk, as we looked round on all these vast preparations and this great concourse of men of all sorts and conditions, on the enormous outlay of money that was being spent without stint, on the toil and sickness and death