'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' [‎267] (318/552)

THE GAEA MOUNTAINS
267
One of these people had fever and another neuralgia.
We found neuralgia pretty common in Arabia. Quassia-
chips were given to each to steep in water, but carefully
tied up in different coloured cotton bags. Our way was very
uninteresting, due south to the sea at Eizat.
My husband's camel required repacking, and he and
Hassan managed to lose sight of the rest of the kafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. . Imam
Sharif and I went on without perceiving that the rest had
stopped. We had to wait an hour to be found. I dis
mounted, and sat in a circle of thirteen men. When one of
them wished to attract my attention he tapped me on the
knee with sword or stick, saying, ' Ya (oh), Mabel 1'
One of the first days I beard them consulting what
my name might be; several were suggested, but at last they
thought it must be ' Fatema ' and to try called 'Ya Fatema V
I said ' My name is not u Fatema ";' then they asked, and
thus they learnt our names.
They said they did not wish us to give them orders of
any kind as they were sheikhs; certainly not through the
soldiers. ' We are gentlemen, and they are slaves, and if we
choose we can kill them. What is it to us? We shall have
to pay 400 reals, but we can give a camel each and can well
afford it. We are rich.'
I must say these men were often very kind to me.