HAMRANS THREATEN HOSTILITY. 185 we heard shouts, and perceived that some disturbance was froinof on. The Hamrans had discovered that we had Base with us, and had pursued them with their guns, threatening that they would shoot them ; but the three Lacatecourah men, together with the man from Sogada, ran away as fast as their legs would carry them, — the latter leaving his horse behind with us.

The Hamrans soon gave up the chase, and went a short way down the river ; on the way they met some of our Arabs, whom they informed that we should not go down the river into their country, and that, if we persisted in doing so, they would shoot us. We were naturally very indignant with them for their impertinence, and very angry at their having frightened away men who were living in our camp with our permission ; we of course poohpoohed their threats, and told them we should go vvhere we pleased.

They had a right to be annoyed at our going into their country with Haikota people, and shooting their game, as by so doing any baksheesh we might distribute, or wages we might pay, would go to them, instead of to the Hamrans, the inhabitants of the country ; it was, however, a very hostile method of expostulating with us about it. Had we intended shooting in the Hamran country when we left Haikota, we should of course not have taken any of Sheik Achmed Ageer's people farther than to the borders of the Hamrans ; but when we left, we never contemplated spending any time in their country. We took no notice of their threats, but broke up our camp, and rode on. Suleiman harangued them as we passed them sitting under some trees, with a number of their people ; and they made an apology.

We had not gone far before a native came running to tell us there were two hippos " in a pool close by. We soon found