‘A Pilgrimage to Nejd, the cradle of the Arab race. A visit to the court of the Arab Emir, and "Our Persian Campaign."' [‎31] (56/326)

€H. XIII.]
VVe leave the lions den
31
would lean out of the window, which was partly
■covered by a shutter, and shout to one of his
men who were standing below some message with
regard to the pilgrims. He seemed to be enjoy
ing the pleasure of his power over them, and it is
absolute.
To us he was very amiable, renewing all his
protestations of friendship and regard, and offering
to give us anything we might choose to ask for,
dromedaries for the journey, or one of his mares.
This, although we should have liked to accept the
last offer, we of course declined, Wilfrid making a
short speech in the Arab manner, saying that the only
thing we asked was the Emir’s regard, and wishing
him length of days. He begged Mohammed ibn
Eashid to consider him as his vakil Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator. in Europe -
in case he required assistance of any kind, and
thanked him for all the kindness we had
received at his hands. The Emir then proposed
that we should put off our departure, and go with
him instead on a ghazu or warlike expedition he
was starting on in a few days, a very attractive
offer which might have been difficult to refuse had
it been made earlier, but which we now declined.
Our heads, in fact, had been in the jaws of the
lion long enough, and now our only object was to
get quietly and decorously out of the den. We
therefore pleaded want of time, and added that our
camels were already on the road; we then said
good-bye and took our leave.