Chapter 17

WE REACH THE ROYAN.

Hor Mai Gubba--The Francolin Partridge--We watch for Game--Out with the Aggageers--The Banks of the Royan--We find a Bull Elephant--Helter- skelter--The Elephant at Bay--Roder with the withered Arm--The Sword wins the Day--The nimble Base dine cheaply--The great Whirlpool--The Royan Junction with the Settite--A Bull Rhinoceros--Bacheet has to run--Visit to Mek Nimmur--Our Arabs decline to proceed--Obliged to threaten the Camels--The Troop on a Foray--Narrow Escape--The Rifle bursts--We march from the Settite--Interesting Route--Mineral Wealth of Abyssinia--Present to Mek Nimmur--The Abyssinian Minstrel--Richard Coeur de Lion--I part with my dear Maria Theresa--The Ghost of the departed Fiddler--The "Lay of the Last Minstrel"--My Introduction to Mek Nimmur--The Reception--The poisonous Stream--Unfortunate Contretemps--Nimmur behaves like a Gentleman--Pharaoh's lean Kine.