The half-naked and excitable Arabs or Fellahs are so ready with offers of service, that it is difficult to keep them off.

It almost becomes necessary to threaten these poor people with a stick, as they obstinately refuse to take a gentler hint.

As the water is here very shallow, so that even the little boats cannot come quite close to shore, some others of these brown forms immediately approached, seized us by the arms, took us upon their backs amidst continual shouting and quarrelling, and carried us triumphantly to land.
Before the stranger puts himself into the hands of men of this kind, such as captains of small craft, donkey-drivers, porters, etc., he will find it a very wise precaution to settle the price he is to pay for their services.

I generally spoke to the captain, or to some old stager among the passengers, on this subject.

Even when I gave these people double their usual price, they were not contented, but demanded an additional backsheesh (gratuity).