Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates Vol 2 - The Search For Mecca

122 Bedouin Tribes of the EiLphrates. [en. xx.
no attempt was made at followiDg them, even with
a small party of horsemen who might have clone so
without any danger, the Gomiissa being so much
better mounted than the Koala. All this is from
want of a trusted leader. As Meshur said "
: We
are like sheep here without a shepherd." The great
tent, however, was at last pitched, and our own close
by, and towards it horsemen came riding in from
all points of the compass. It was a grand opportunity
for looking over the Gomussa mares, and
one we did not neglect. It is not worth while
mentioning all we saw to-day, but amongst others
was brought the dam of our coveted Abeyeh, a fine
old brood mare, though less handsome than her
daughter. Many of the best shaped animals were
fearfully disfigured with firing, while others had
hopeless backs, and others again feet ruined by long
standing in the iron fetters used l:>y the Arabs to
prevent stealing.
With all the real merit, however,
of these mares, there were hardly a dozen which
could be called first-class, and not one equal to the
Abeyeh, or more beautiful than our own Saade.
At last, a body of thirty horsemen arrived,
headed by Jedaan on his Kehilnn Akhnis. His
face wore a curious expression, partly of satisfaction,
partly of disgust, and we read it to mean the contempt
he felt for his allies,
and the pleasure at finding
himself so necessary to them. Satisfaction at
the result of the day's manoeuvres he can scarcely
have, for it now turns out that, although the Eoala