POSITIOX OF MOHAMMED DIX. 119 CHAP. VII.

Position of Mohammed Din.— Camels stolen. — Ant Hills. — Cliameleons. — Animal Fraternity. — Uses of Tobacco Rosaries — Beads — Amulets Blacks— Appearance and Opinions.

Our Pascha seems to have gained nothing by holding as prisoners Mohammed Din, Mussa, and the two Sheiks of Mitkenab, as now no tribute of any sort comes in from their tribes, and not an Arab is to be seen at our lately-established market. That he will, by these means, succeed with Mohammed Din and his people seems to us far from probable, or rather, we feel certain that he will not, and Mohammed Din is repeatedly demanding why he is kept a prisoner, and not at once put to death ; he says he fears not death, and would rather meet it than undergo such treatment, that leads to nothing. And we believe him, and, if so, the Pascha will never receive aught from his tribe, who seemingly are guided in all by Mohammed Din's orders. If he dies, in his people's eyes, he will have fallen a sacrifice to his country's weal, and will be honoured by them as a martyr (Schahied, as we have already heard him styled), his grave will become a holy spot, and he himself be numbered among their saints. Who can tell whether or not Mohammed Din has taken all this into consideration, and may not have made up his mind to sacrifice himself, even though in so doing he may have been less influenced by patriotic feelings than by the honour and fame such a death would bestow on his name, and so gloriously wind up a career like his own, — a life of the utmost reverence from, and influence with, his countrymen, thus closing with a death bringing everlasting honour and renown? Most of the leading men among the blacks of our army have expressed to us their dissatisfaction with the Pascha's conduct towards Mohammed Din ; all accuse him of breach of his word; he having given the Sheik the " Amahn," and it is possible they may at heart be alarmed for a like fate for themselves. Further it is plainly to be seen that the Pascha himself is by no means sure he had done right in taking this course, although he has doubtless well considered and long intended it ; on our wait-