country, and threatened him with the lasting displeasure of our
Government, and ruin to his trade at Aden, if he still persisted in
his tricks. This brought matters home much closer than anybody liked
to hear, and set all parties cogitating on what course had best be
followed. I now retired to cool myself by shooting, and on returning
again was met by the Abban, interpreter, and many Dulbahanta Akils,
who, now trying the conciliating dodge, came to report the good news
that a victory had been gained by the northerners, and the southerners
were in full retreat to their provinces, by which the road to Berbera
would be open to my proceeding onwards. Moreover, the rear traps had
arrived at Abi, by which accident everything seemed to harmonise. This
sounded very cheering for the moment, but I soon was damped again.

I wanted to move at once, and lose no time in taking full benefit of
the opportunity thus offered; but this, like every other proposal that
I made, was immediately checked by a cruel device, as unforeseen as it
was objectionable. Hassan had not come with the ponies he went after
from Rhut Tug; I must therefore, before advancing, send back to the
farther frontier of the Warsingali to purchase, by bills on Aden, five
ponies at thirty dollars a-head, to be afterwards given away in
presents to chiefs on the road for allowing me to pass through their
territories, and this, at a minimum calculation, would occupy a
fortnight's time, and even then I should have to go single-handed,
without a servant, instrument, or article of any bulk with me. Of
course this, as the Abban knew, I never would consent to. On no
account would I suffer my being separated from my men and property
when the time for my return to Berbera was so close at hand; and,
moreover, without the instruments the journey would be of no avail.
Row succeeded row when I pushed matters closely; the Abban sometimes
affected repentance, but more often became defiant, and forbade