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

cii. XIX.] The Prince of the Desert.
77
us was our old ac([uaintance iVli the Mehdd, whom
we liad plotted with at Deyr, aud whose failure to
meet us at the tiysting place outside had been the
cause of all our difficulties. He apologised very
handsomely for having left us in the lurch, and explained
that the Pasha had got wind of our arrangement,
and had threatened to hang him, if he did not
go about his business at once.
He told us Jedaan was in the tent and was expecting
us; and presently a middle-aged man, rather
shabbily-dressed
and rather ill-mounted on an iron
grey mare, rode up to us and bade us welcome.
There was nothing in his manner, features, or
appearance to proclaim him a man of note. His
face was plain and undistinguished, his address
neither very dignified
nor very engaging, his smile
a singularly cold one, — only his eyes were remarkable
by a certain glitter they had, and the projection
of the eyebrows over them. He returned
our greeting gravely, and rode almost in silence with
us to the tent.
This was Jedaan, the great captain
of the Anazeh, honoured by them with the title of
Emir el Arab. The first words he uttered, after the
usual compliments had been exchanged, were a question
as to the breeding of my mare, Sherifa, whose
extraordinarily beautiful head seems to attract all
eyes to her. This struck us as rather rude, and I
had expected, considering their old alliance and
brotherhood, a far greater demonstration of pleasure
b}- him towards the Consul. On the whole we are