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Already the Wady Mulaybij had shown us the familiar peak and dorsum of Jebel Raydan; and we had "chaffed" Furayj about his sudden return home. After the big mess-tent had been duly blown down, and the usual discipline had been administered for washing in the drinking-pool; we crossed to the left of the Wady by way of an evening stroll, and at once came upon an atelier of some importance.
I had some difficulty in persuading our good friend Furayj, who had not seen the country for fifteen years, to engage as guide one of the many Bedawin camel-herds: his course seemed to serpentine like that of an animal grazing he said it was intended to show the least stony road and, when he pointed with the wave of the maimed right hand, he described an arc of some 90 . The Sulaymi lad caught the nearest camel, climbed its sides as you would a tree, and, when the animal set off at a lumbering gallop, pressed the soles of his feet to the ribs, with exactly the action of a Simiad; clinging the while, like grim Death, to the hairy hump.
Shaykh Furayj; pointed out to us the far northern blue peaks of the 'Amud Zafar, in whose branch-Wady lie the ruins of M'jirmah. The day ended with a sudden trembling of the ship, as if straining at anchor; but the crew was again performing fantasia, and the earthquake or sea-quake rolled unheededly away.
The view down the regular and tree-dotted slope of the Wady el-Marwat, as far as the flats of Bada, was charming, an Argelez without its over-verdure. From the Col two roads lead to our day's destination. The short cut to the right was reported stony: as most of our mules were casting their irons and falling lame, I avoided it by the advice of Furayj, thereby giving huge offence to old 'Afnan.
On March 7th the caravan marched straight northwards, by the Hajj-road, along the shore to its camping-ground, an affair of two hours, while M. Marie and I set off for the turquoise mine. Furayj, who had never passed that way, engaged as guide one Sulaym el-Makrafi; and this old dromedary-rider's son had been sent on to bring into camp all the Fayruz he could find.
The whole Expedition, except only the sick left at the fort, was now bound southwards. The Sayyid and our friend Furayj accepted formal invitations to accompany us: Bukhayt, my "shadow," with Husayn, chef and romancer-general, were shipped as their henchmen; and a score of soldiers and quarrymen represented the escort and the working-hands.
He then led us about the neighbourhood, and ended with inviting the Sayyid, Furayj, and the Wakil Mohammed Shahadah to a copious feast. The fort is the usual square, straight-curtained work of solid masonry, with a circular bastion at each angle, and a huge arched main-entrance in the western facade.
It was curious to remark how completely the acute Furayj believed him, because both were Arabs and brother Bedawin. Next morning we set out, shortly after the red and dewy sunrise, to visit the south end of Leuke Kome.
Meanwhile I steamed southwards, accompanied by the rest of the party, including the Sayyid, Shaykh Furayj, and the ex-Wakil, Mohammed Shahadah, who is trusted by the Bedawin, and who brought with him a guide of the Fawa'idah-Juhaynah, one Rajih ibn 'Ayid.
The camels varied from fifty-eight to sixty-four, when specimens were forwarded to the harbour-town. The expenditure amounted toL92 13s., including pay and "bakhshish" to the Baliyy Shaykhs, but not including our friends the Sayyid, Furayj, and the Wakil Mohammed Shahadah.
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