In response to the request, Boyton promised to favor them and on the
following day, he gave a demonstration of what he could do in the
water, much to their enjoyment and surprise.
After the exhibition, he was shown the pleasures of the city. One of his
most interesting experiences was in encountering the great dangers
afforded by a wild boar hunt. Early one morning the hunting party,
headed by Colonel Mathews, mounted on wiry little Arab horses, and
carrying bamboo sticks pointed with a sharp spear, rode over the hills
back of the quaint old city and descended to the desert. They proceeded
for a long distance and chanced on no signs of game. They were
beginning to get somewhat discouraged, when they met a camel train from
Fez. "I will ask some of these people if they have seen any boars on
their way hither," said Colonel Mathews, "but you can place very little
dependence on what they say. They are naturally inclined to
exaggerate." He rode up to the leader of the train and the following
conversation which the Colonel's son translated, took place:
"Mahomet protect my brothers. You came from afar; but your journey will
soon be ended and you will have blissful rest," said the Colonel.
"Allah bless you, master. We are weary and glad to approach our
journey's end," replied the head of the caravan.
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