Page 462 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXV.] NAKAB EL HAJAR. 423

pointed out to us. As their vicinity was said
to be infested with robbers, we were obliged

to halt at a village, in order to obtain one of
its inhabitants to accompany us to them.

Our guides, as usual, having gone to seek
shelter from the heat of the sun, had left us

to make our breakfast on dates and water, in
any sheltered spot we could find. The sun

was nearly vertical, and the walls of the
houses afforded us no protection. Seeing

this, several of the inhabitants came forward,

and offered with much kindness to take us to
their dwellings. We gladly consented, and

followed one of them. Coffee was imme­
diately served; and it was with some diffi­

culty, after a promise to return if possible in
the evening, that we prevented our host from

ordering a meal to be immediately cooked
for us.

This circumstance, combined with several
others which occurred on our return, con­

vinced me, if we had been provided with a
better escort, that after passing the territory

of the Diyabis, we should have experienced
neither incivility nor unkindness from the

people.