Page 196 - Arabian Studies (II)

188 Arabian Studies II

about to start on a journey, they make a most melancholy
noise, and if anyone strikes them, they seem by it to
deprecate the anger of their oppressors and beseech him to
pity their unprotected state. When unloading or pleased they
make a similar noise, varying slightly in its intonation. Having
seated myself across the saddle and taken firm hold of the
raised pommel, the animal rose by three successive motions;
the first throwing himself forwards with such a violent jerk
that I should infallibly have been thrown over his head, had I
not been cautioned to heave my body backwards; then a
similar one backwards as he rose on his forelegs, and the last
forwards as he rose on his hinder-ones. There being no
stirrups, I was told to place one of my feet on his neck and
thus I proceeded to the pass sometimes at a hard trot but
generally at a not unpleasant walk. It was rather disagreable
descending the hill, and I was obliged to hold on behind to
avoid slipping over his head. At last however this did happen.
The saddle not being properly secured and coming down on
his neck, which sent me a few feet over his head but alighting
on my feet.
On reaching the beach opposite to the shipping I found to
my great chagrin that the steamer sailed last evening before
she had been expectd to do so.
Went on board the Coote, saw Captain D., thence to the
beach mounted a horse belonging to Captain H., rode back to
his house. The horses in Aden at present are but ponies and
generally in a miserable condition. They are brought from the
opposite coast and there is but little to feed them on, there
being scarcely a blade of grass in the place. Reeds and bushes
are brought in from the country but very expensive.
At Zi past 3 went with Captain J.J. and D.18 to dine with
E. at the mess of the Bombay European Regt. Their camp is
pitched to the left of the town on entering from the Western
(or rather) pass [sic], the tents in three lines, the officers to
the extreme right, and outside of these the mess tent, which
is the largest. The subalterns are allowed only single-poled,
those above them double-poled tents, the servants have
smaller ones close to their masters.
At the mess everyone sat down indiscriminately without
attention to rank. The dinner not very recherche as no
luxuries are to be procured here. The party I was with sat an
unconscionably long time after dinner so that it was nearly
ten when we adjourned to Evans’ tent, whom I had promised
to take up my quarters with, during my stay in Aden. The
tent single-poled was very neatly arranged into three com­
partments, one serving as a pantry and bathing room, the