Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

THE CRUISE OE THE " PANTALOON." 125
as they could, the commander-in-chief of " all
the forces " took up a position in front of them,
and, after reprimanding about twenty of their
number individually and collectively, gave the
order, " —sent arms," at which some of them
came to the saluting position, and some levelled
their old flint-locks at us with dangerous precision,
had they been loaded, which they had not
been perhaps for many years.
After a great many other ridiculous performances,
two men advanced to me with a "bearer,"
such as I have seen used for taking wounded
men off a field, only not so long, and by no
means so comfortable, being apparently formed
of the bottoms of old chairs secured to two oars
with the blades cut off. I was requested to
mount, which I at first declined,
but being told
it would not be etiquette to refuse, I did so;
and after
getting on and tumbling off once or
twice, managed at last to hold on a la Turc,
in spite of the shaking they gave me as they
carried me over the rugged lane. I was thus
uncomfortably conveyed the remaining halfmile
to the royal country residence.
On enter-