I swapped horses with Mohammed, the kingly-looking Egyptian who is our Ferguson's lieutenant.

By Ferguson I mean our dragoman Abraham, of course.

I did not take this horse on account of his personal appearance, but because I have not seen his back.

I do not wish to see it.

I have seen the backs of all the other horses, and found most of them covered with dreadful saddle-boils which I know have not been washed or doctored for years.