282 JOURNEY TO CENTRAL AFRICA.

the balcony, when the first rocket shot hissing into the air, drew its fiery curve through the darkness, and burst into a rain of yellow stars. " Wallah ! " and " Mashallah ! " were echoed from mouth to mouth, and the desert chiefs could scarcely contain themselves, from astonishment and delight.

The second rocket went up quite near to us, and sooner than was expected. Hamed, the Bisharee shekh, was so startled that he threw both his arms around the Consul and held fast for dear life, and even the great Owd-el-Kerim drew a long breath and ejaculated, "God is great!" They then took their leave, deeply impressed with the knowledge and wisdom of the Franks.