y.

I may say here that we had from the first observed that the people were
in a somewhat uneasy state of mind, as if aware that an enemy was in the
neighbourhood. No fires had been lighted. The tents had been pitched
close to the shore, so that they and the camels were hidden, by the
first line of sand-hills rising above them, from any one passing on the
opposite side; while men on foot were sent out as scouts at night, to
watch far and wide round the camp.

After we had finished our task we were told that we might go down to the
beach and obtain shell-fish for our own supper. Our fare was not much
better than we had before been able to obtain for ourselves; for, no
fires being allowed, we were unable to cook our shell-fish--and only a
small portion of porridge was given us, while we were compelled to drink
the brackish water which we procured from a well dug in the sand some
way off.

Darkness at length coming on, we were permitted to lie down, worn out
with fatigue, outside the chiefs tent, thankful that we were not as yet
separated from each other. The women and children, however, would not
for some time allow us to go sleep; but again coming round us, joined
this time by some of the younger men, amused themselves in jeering at
and taunting us. But at length they retired, and we fell asleep.

Dawn had just broken, when we were aroused by the voices of the people
in the camp; and on looking out, we saw a number of the scouts hurrying
in, with alarm on their countenances. We were not kept long in doubt as
to the cause of their agitation; for on glancing to the eastward we saw,
coming over the hills of sand, several bands of Bedouins mounted on
camels, their arms glittering brightly in the rays of the rising sun.
On they advanced at full gallop, till they got within gun-shot of our
camp, when they suddenly pulled up. The camels then slowly kneeling
down, their masters dismounted, and secured fetters to their legs, to
prevent them from going away. Two Arabs were mounted on each camel: the
first seated on a small side-saddle, something in the style of a lady's;
and the second as a man sits on horseback. We counted nearly twenty
different bands, each composed of twelve men, who took up their stations
one after the other. Whether they came as friends or foes, was at first
difficult for us to determine; but, from the state of agitation and
alarm into which the Ouadlims were thrown, it was soon clear that they