Page 481 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

440 NAKAB EL HAJAR. [CH.

Bedowins, who were with us, to defer our de­

parture until the morning. Any disturbance

we might have with them had better happen

then than during the night. We therefore

took up our quarters amidst the sand-hills,

where we could light a fire without fear of its

being observed by those on board.

It will readily be believed that if we felt

fatigued it was not without reason. We

had been seventy hours from our station at

Ba-l-haff, during forty hours of which we had

been mounted on our camels. The whole

distance, one hundred and twenty miles,

might have been accomplished, on a quick

camel, in half that time, and it was our slow

pace during the excessive heat of the weather

at this season, which formed the most toil­

some and tedious part of the journey.

May 3rd. Being discovered at an early

hour this morning from the ship, a boat was

immediately despatched for us. Strength­

ened now with her crew, we settled with the

Bedowins without any additional demand,

and in the course of a few minutes were on

board the vessel, where we received the con­

gratulations of all on our return. Consider­

able apprehension had been entertained for