Page 201 - Arabian Studies (II)

The First Days of British Aden 193

It is said, with I know not what truth, that there were
once 360 mosques on the plain, a little exaggerated I think.
Again passed through the tombs reconnoitred several wells of
great depth, where the Hindoos who like good water were
busily employed in raising it, and returned to the tent.
Dined with the mess, Daniel of the Mahy sat next to me.
During the repast, a funeral cortege passed with the body of
Serjeant Elder of this regt. whom they buried about fifty
yards from the spot we were on, and fired three volleys over
him. There was something rather melancholy to be sitting, as
we were, in an open tent, to see the body of one of our
fellow creatures born past its last habitation, reminding us, as
it were in the midst of feasting, that the time was
approaching when our own clay should in like manner be
carried to mix with its kindred dust. I have little doubt that,
military as the company were, a thought of a similar nature
shot through the breast of each as it did through mine.
Visited my interpreter Magui26 at Raschid ben Abdallah’s
where he had taken up his quarters and appeared very
comfortable.
Had planned an excursion to the tombs to-night with
Evans but being officer of the day he was unable to come.
And I set out there with Trower at 10 o’clock for the
purpose of carrying off one or two of the marble slabs,
quieting my conscience on the score of the robbery, by the
idea that at present they have no proprietor, the descendants
of the departed having long left the vicinity of Aden. We
were however obliged to proceed cautiously, as the discovery
of our intentions by any of the Arabs remaining in the town
might have been productive of unpleasant consequences.
Provided with a dark lantern and accompanied by our two
servants we groped our way in the pitchy darkness, risking a
dangerous fall at every step. We however arrived safely at the
great emporium of marble tombs and searched for those I
had previously pitched upon, but having mistaken the
bearings in the obscurity that enveloped us, I succeeded in
taking only one, curiously carved with flowers on one side
and a good inscription on the other. This we lifted on Adda’s
head,2 7 weighty as it was and he being a stout fellow trotted
off with it in the direction of the camp, whilst we looked
for another. Being unsuccessful however we resolved to defer
it till tomorrow night and followed in the direction Adda had
taken. On coming up with him we found he had been
stopped by three Arabs, who enquired what he had got, but
having taken the precaution to cover the white tomb with his
cloak, they did not discover what it was. Like a pair of
resurrectionists, we examined stealthily every thing which