BITTER WATEES 197

In these circumstances Qabr Hud1—the reputed tomb and
shrine of the prophet Heber—seemed to be the best objec-
tive on Longitude 50° E. and Latitude 16° ]ST. as far as I
could ascertain from the available maps. That was there-
fore the task I set them, with Shibani (further west) and the
sea-coast (further south) as reasonable alternatives. Also
they were to hire a few fresh camels if possible and ascertain
the possibilities of replenishing our commissariat for the
ultimate waterless trek to Sulaiyil.

Look you, said' Ali, you know what the Badu are like. These
people will want much money. You must tell us how much we
can go to. That is rather for you to consider, I replied; I will
agree to what you consider reasonable. The money I have
brought is for the needs of our expedition. Waste it not lest
there be less for you all to share. But how much do you think?
insisted 'Ali. What do you advise ? I replied evasively. He
was for a long time unwilling to commit himself, and I told
them to consult among themselves and come to me with the
result. At length they came to me. We think, said 'Ali, that
they will not accept less than 100 dollars apiece. They are
Badu and greedy, and the Christian by all reports was generous
last year. What do you think ? I asked, turning to Zayid.
I agree with ?Ali, he replied, and it is cheap. They are
Shaikhs and, if you pay them well, they will serve you well.
Very well, I replied, let us agree to that. The prospect of the
expenditure of 400 or 500 dollars (about £20 or £25) did not
seem very outrageous in the circumstances.

Next morning we sat over the camp-fire sipping coffee and
eating dates while preparations went forward for sending down
the camels to water at Naifa. As we should visit the place later
I decided to stay where I was for a rest. Zayid and 'Ali would
go with the watering party and thence proceed to Shanna.
As we sat there a V-shaped column of geese or swans2

1 This locality was visited by D. van der Meulen and Dr. H. von "Wiss-
mann in 1931. Their account is published in a recent volume entitled
Hadramaut. See also J.R.G.S., vol. bcxvii, No. 3, 1931, for an aeroplane
flight over the locality by Squadron-Leader the Horu B. A. Cochrane. The
actual position, according to these authorities, is approximately Long. 49y
30' E. and Lat. 16° N.

2 My companions called them Lau.