Page 101 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

82 SHERM TO SINAI. [CH.

fully bestow all that their convent affords, the
traveller will fare ill, unless he comes provided
with a stock of provisions. Vegetables, how­

ever good and plentiful, indifferent cheese,
with bread and sweetmeats, will form, at
least to an Englishman’s taste, but unsubstan­
tial comforts after so long and fatiguing a
journey, and in such a climate. The rules
of the convent permit not the slaughter of
any animal within its walls ; but sheep may
very frequently be procured from the Be-
dowins, and no objection will be made to
cooking the meat after it has been prepared
by them.

Intense as were our feelings of curiosity to
view the numerous interesting objects around,
they yielded this evening to the effects of our
journey; and reserving that pleasure until
the morrow should render us the more fitting
to enjoy them, we retired at an early hour to
our place of repose. It was a small, snug
chamber, spread with rich carpets, on which
were placed large cushions ; while thick cover­

lids, stuffed with cotton, the cleanliness and
freshness of which were alone sufficient to
recommend them, served us for both sheets