'Southern Arabia, by Theodore Bent, F.R.G.S., F.S.A., Author of 'The Ruined Cities of Mashonaland' 'The Sacred City of the Ethiopians' 'The Cyclades, Or Life Among the Insular Greeks' etc. and Mrs Theodore Bent' [‎102] (143/552)

102
THE HADHEAMOUT
bearing torches, and singing and speechifying to their hearts'
content.
On our return from the ruins near Meshed, Taisir (our
soldier) came to us and was very indignant about the price
the sultan charged for his soldiers. He was given ten
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. to attach himself to us, as an earnest of the good
bakshish he would get at the coast, as he said all the other
soldiers would go back from Shibahm, and really in that
case I think he would have been glad of our escort.
Then Saleh, who had 100 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. a month and ate with
everyone, came to demand half a rupee a day for food ;
this was granted, as we thought it could come off his
bakshish, and he soon appeared to make the same request
for Mahmoud, the naturalist. Matthaios was furious, as
Mahmoud ate partly with him, and no one was angrier
with him than Saleh. It was settled that we should give
him tea, bread, and four annas, and they all went off bawling.
Afterwards we heard Saleh had said, ' Mr. Bent is giving so
much money to the sultan, why should we not have some?'
We really thought at first that we should be able to
encamp at Meshed and dig, for there was a seyyid who had
been in Hyderabad and was very civil to us, but this happi
ness only lasted one hour. The sultan said it would really
not be safe unless we lived in Hagarein, so we had to give
it up as it was an impossibility to dig in the heat of the day,
with six hours' journey to fatigue us ; besides we must have
paid many soldiers and we were told no one would dig for us.
So much was said about the dangers of the onward road that
Saleh was sent with the letters for Shibahm and Sheher and
told to hold them tight, and say that if we could not deliver
these in person we should return to the wali of Aden and
say that the sultan of Hagarein would not let us go on.
This frightened him, so he made a very dear bargain for
fifteen camels, and we were to leave next day.