ants. They were seated on the ground
like London tailors, surrounded by their bales of goods, principally rough
cotton, with six camels and two tame ostriches. The former were lying
down, the latter walking about and searching for food among the short,
rank grass and stones. Some of the latter I observed they swallowed. I
purchased from the merchants some ostrich eggs. They asked me to give them
rum. One of them, who spoke a little English, and was interpreter for the
others, told me they intended coming on board to see the ship, and to
shake hands with the captain. I informed him he would feel himself highly
flattered by such Arabian condescension, but that they must make haste, as
the ship would sail in a day or two. They all begged to shake hands with
us, for the marine officer accompanied me. On returning to the boat we
found two of the natives, who appeared at a distance more like maypoles
than men, endeavouring to hold a conversation with the boat's crew. The
coxswain told me they had fallen in love with the boat-hook, and offered
in exchange one of their lances. When we appeared their thoughts were
turned from the boat-hook to the marine officer's sword, and they
requested him, by signs, to make an exchange. Another native had joined
the other two, armed with a musket. I made signs to him to let me look at
it, but he would not trust it out of his hands. I remarked it was an old
English worn-out gun without a hammer to the lock. Perceiving that they
were beginning to be troublesome, we jumped into the boat and threw them
some biscuits, which they devoured with the appetite of wolves.

We had not been on board an hour when we were honoured with a visit from
four of the Arabians, who, without ceremony, went up to the captain and
shook him by the hand, and asked him for the purser. The latter very
opportunely made his appearance, when the captain pointed him out to the
Arab who spoke broken English. He soon left the latter, and accosted the
former with unblushing effrontery, and asked him for a cask of flour. "And
for what?" demanded the purser. "Because I your good friend," was the
answer. "You are an impudent, beggarly rascal," said our hasty-tempered
purveyor of provisions to him. "What can I see in your precious ugly black
face that will induce me to give you anything but a good kicking?"
"Patience and policy, messmate," I said. "Where is your philosophy? Let
your steward give them a few biscuits and a dram, and ge