It now consisted of twenty-two camels (six of which were laden with water), five Baluchis, my original escort, and six of the Djam's cavalry.

I could well have dispensed with the latter, but the kindly little Wazir would not hear of my going without them.

An addition also to our party was a queer creature, half Portuguese, half Malay, picked up by Gerome in the Beila bazaar, and destined to fulfil the duties of cook.

How he had drifted to Beila I never ascertained, and thought it prudent not to inquire too much into his antecedents.

No one knew anything about him, and as he talked a language peculiar to himself, no one was ever likely to; but he was an undeniably good _chef_, and that was the chief consideration.