ght. He examined everything very
critically before a price was named. The guns had been procured for a
native East-Indian prince; but the ship that brought them to the shores
of his country was not permitted to land them. He was deposed about the
time, probably on account of the attempt to bring these guns into his
domain.

The captain of the sailing-ship could not collect even his freight
money, and he was forced to carry them off with him when his cargo was
completed. His consignee suggested to him that the Imam, or Sultan, of
Muscat would purchase his war material, and be glad to get it, and he
had sailed for that port; but among the rocks at the entrance to the
Persian Gulf his bark had been wrecked. The guns and ammunition were
saved, for they were the captain's private venture, and he had stored
them between decks.

The bottom of the bark was pounded and ground off, and the cargo in the
hold was a total loss; but an English steamer had taken off the ship's
company and the naval goods, and carried them to Aden. The unfortunate
captain sold them for the most he could get to the Parsee merchants, who
had kept them for years before they found a purchaser. They got their
money back, and they were satisfied.

As soon as the commander finished his business with the merchants he
hastened to join the party, who were still exploring the town. It
contains about twenty thousand inhabitants, and everything was as
Arabian as in the desert. He found his passengers just starting for a
ride of about five miles; and, after he had been introduced to the
officers, he went with them.

"Goodness gracious!" exclaimed Mrs. Blossom, as they were getting into
the carriages, "what is the matter with that man?"

"Nothing is the matter with him, madam," replied an officer, laughing at
the manner of the excellent woman.

"Why, I thought he had a hornets' nest on the top of his head," she
added.

"He has nothing but his hair there."

"It would be just the thing for a mop."

"That is a Soumali Indian, and you will see a plenty of them," the
officer explained. "In fact, you will find every sort of people here.
These Soumalis are great dandies; for you see they dye their hair in red
or yellow, and I suppose they think they are handsome. Probably you
don't think so."

"I'm sure I don't. Why, the fellow has no clothes on but a sheet wrapped
around him, and don't even cover his chest with that!"

"That's his fashion; and if you dressed