There was an Arab in the store ahead of us.

He was buying Martini Henry cartridges.

I asked whether he had a permit, and was told he did not need one.
"Being an Arab ?" I asked.
"Being well known to the government," was the answer.
We left the store feeling neither quite so confident nor friendly.

And the collector's Goanese assistant did the rest of the disillusioning.
No, we could not have our guns.

No, we could have no permit for ammunition.