Page 458 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXV.] NAKAB EL HAJAR. 419

climbing over the high embankments which
enclose the jowari fields. The camels fell so
frequently while crossing these boundaries,

that at length the Bedowins, affecting to lose
all patience, took their departure, and left us
with them, an old man, and a little boy, to

shift for ourselves. I should have cared the
less for this, if before stealing off" they had
acquainted the latter with their destination,
but they had not condescended to do so, and

we were preparing to take up our quarters in
the fields. Unexpectedly, however, we fell in

with an old woman, who, as soon as she was
informed of our situation, without the slightest
hesitation promised to conduct us to her
house. We gladly followed her, but having-

wandered far from the path, we did not arrive
there until midnight.
We found our guides comfortably seated

within a house, smoking their pipes and
drinking coffee. Though excessively pro­
voked, I was aware that remonstrance would

be useless; and concealing my chagrin, I
proceeded to secure a lodging for the night.
But a large party had got there before us,

and having taken possession of every apart­