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might fpare myfelf this unnecefTary trouble, and only make ufe of the eclipfe to frighten Fidele as part of the punifli- ment he fo amply deferved.
There was a prodigious number of people afTembled at the Shekh's door. The Jehaina had all come upon camels ; two or three of the principal ones were fitting with him and the Moullah. One of thefe, whom I did not know, but who had feen me at Ras el Feel, upon my approaching the Shekh, got up, took mc by the hand, and made a very re- fpedlfvil falutation. As he was a friend of Yafine, and Shekh el Nile, I never doubted from that minute that this was a contrivance of theirs in my favour.
The Moullah had alledged, that probably I had difpatch- ed fome intelligence to Yafine of my being detained, which had caufed him to make this reprifal ; but Shekh Fidele afliired them that he knew it to be impoffible, and that this feizure of the caravan mull have been occafioned by fome ill-ufage to the people belonging to Tchelga and Nara, the frontier villages to the weftward. In this the Shekh of Je- haina agreed ; for he had heard Ammonios mentioned, but nothing of Yafine. The Moullah was unconvinced, but aiked me, " Hakim, have you never fent a complaint to Yafine fince you came to Teawa ? tell me truly ; no harm feall befal you from it." " If I were not to tell you truly faid I, Shekh, I would not anfwer you at all. I am under no obligation to do it, nor am I under any fear. You are but at the beginning of this affair, and many will fuffer before I do." " Truly, fays the Moullah, but have you fent intelligence to Ras el Feel r" " No, no, fays Fidele, he had it not in his power ; nor is there a man in Teawa, that
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