volume 2 - Robert Bedrosian's Armenian History Workshop

2o8 Shikh Masalat.
stopped the soldiers and the animals at one of their
outer tents and several men came up and began to take
off the loads, and whilst this was being done I was led
to a large tent in the middle of the camp, where I found
the shekh. He received me very cordially, and seeing
the rain running off me and making a little pool about
me, he clapped his hands, and when his people came
running to him he told them to bring clothes and
cushions. I asked for one of my bullock-trunks to get
some dry clothes out of it, but he said that not a box
of mine should be opened ; and taking up a sort of long
shirt and a large camel-hair cloak he told me to put
them on. When I asked about the feeding of the
animals he said that he had told his men to attend to
them, that I was his brother, that his tent was my tent,
and that everything he had was his and mine. I said
no more, and taking off my own dripping clothes I
dressed myself in the shekh's garments
criticism of many spectators. The shekh
amid
and I
the
sat
down opposite to each other near a very smoky fire,
and with the simple directness of the Arab he asked
my name, my business, and my destination. When I
had answered these questions I asked him by what
name men called him, and he said " Masalat," and
reeled out his pedigree, which I do not remember. He
said that he belonged to a branch of the great 'Anazah
tribe, and described at great length the extent of his
ancestors' dominions.
Whilst we were talking some men brought in a huge
brass tray heaped up with steaming rice and large pieces
of mutton, and he and several of his chief men and I
lay round it and made a good meal. The mutton and
rice were followed by another tray with a lavish supply
of flat bread-cakes and large lumps of Sinjar honeycomb,
and both cakes and honey were very good.
When coffee was brought we withdrew to our cushions,
and my host began to ask questions and to talk. He
questioned me keenly about England and her Army
and Navy, and Queen Victoria and India, and was very
anxious that the English should take Stambul. He