boat. For three days, it carried contractors of camels and supplies
aboard, and brought them back.

They described him of uncertain age; he might be sixty, he might be
seventy-five. While rather under medium height, he was active and
perfectly his own master. He sat in the shade of the awning cross-legged.
His rug was a marvel of sheeny silk. He talked Arabic, but with an Indian
accent. His dress was Indian--a silken shirt, a short jacket, large
trousers, and a tremendous white turban on a red tarbousche, held by an
aigrette in front that was a dazzle of precious stones such as only a
Rajah could own. His attendants were few, but they were gorgeously
attired, wore _shintyan_ swung in rich belts from their shoulders, and
waited before him speechless and in servile posture. One at his back
upheld an umbrella of immense spread. He indulged few words, and they
were strictly business. He wanted a full outfit for the Hajj; could the
contractor furnish him twenty camels of burden, and four swift
dromedaries? Two of the latter were to carry a litter for himself; the
other two were for his personal attendants, whom he desired furnished
with well-shaded _shugdufs_. The camels he would load with provisions.
While speaking, he would keep his eyes upon the person addressed with an
expression uncomfortably searching. Most extraordinary, however, he did
not once ask about prices.

One of the Shaykhs ventured an inquiry.

"How great will his Highness' suite be?"

"Four."

The Shaykh threw up his hands.