The Same Even The New Moon Was Seen
Which Ushered In The Month Ramadan.
Large fires were made in
different parts of the town, and a greater quantity of victuals than
usual dressed upon the occasion.
March 11. - By daylight the Moors were in readiness; but as I had
suffered much from thirst on the road I made my boy fill a soofroo
of water for my own use, for the Moors assured me that they should
not taste either meat or drink until sunset. However, I found that
the excessive heat of the sun, and the dust we raised in travelling,
overcame their scruples, and made my soofroo a very useful part of
our baggage. On our arrival at Deena, I went to pay my respects to
one of Ali's sons. I found him sitting in a low hut, with five or
six more of his companions, washing their hands and feet, and
frequently taking water into their mouths, gargling and spitting it
out again. I was no sooner seated than he handed me a double-
barrelled gun, and told me to dye the stock of a blue colour, and
repair one of the locks. I found great difficulty in persuading him
that I knew nothing about the matter. "However," says he, "if you
cannot repair the gun, you shall give me some knives and scissors
immediately;" and when my boy, who acted as interpreter, assured him
that I had no such articles, he hastily snatched up a musket that
stood by him, cocked it, and putting the muzzle close to the boy's
ear, would certainly have shot him dead upon the spot had not the
Moors wrested the musket from him, and made signs for us to retreat.
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