It took us some time every morning to silence the trenches commanding our favourite position on the bank of the river for annoying the town itself. In the daily interchange of civilities there were many interesting incidents.

One of the favourite ruses of the Arab chiefs was to ask for a few moments' quiet in which to talk with one of the white officers; and on several occasions an officer — believing in the good faith of the enemy — while holding conversation with the chief, and thoroughly exposed, was, without warning, fired on simultaneously by a dozen or two of men. It seemed to us curious that the Arab allies using muzzleloaders made good practice from the other side of the river, their bullets being iron, hammered round, or pieces of copper about an inch long and nearly half an inch in diameter.