— 28 — enemy. But Shakko pondered in his heart, saying, "Verily these sons of dogs devise some stratagem or artifice in their heads, for do I not see them erecting a fortification against myself ? " And he sent to enquire, "How is it that I see you building a stockade and making preparations against me ?

But I answered him with specious arguments, and replied, "Fear not O King ! for this stockade that we are making is not for purposes of war, but its building has been forced upon us by reason of the leopards that ever prowl around our encampment, and leave neither ourselves nor our goats in peace". So Shakko was appeased and sent messengers to induce us to depart from his territory, but I answered him that we were unable to do so until the rivers should dry in their beds, and the corn should become ripe in the ear. Then the Sultan knew in his heart that we would not go out from his land, and collected his troops against us. But when the men were now assembled Shakko plotted to encompass our destruction, and to take us by craft: wherefore he sent to us five hundred slaves with ewers of Um-Bilbil,* saying, "Welcome ye sons of Arabs, and, in accordance with the custom of our tribe, partake of our hospitality seeing that ye are our guests" ! But I refused his offerings, knowing full well that he planned to attack us what time the fumes of the A strong drink made from fermenting millet (durrha).