Page 137 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

118 SURVEY OF THE [CH.

assembly partook with much relish, but the
Sheikh was served of the same in a separate
dish. In the mean time coffee had been pre­

paring at a circular fire-place, round which
the guests, as they completed their repast,
seated themselves; and, after pipes, we re­
turned to our hut, apparently on the best of
terms with the Sheikh.
During the day, we received visits from
I
different Sheikhs, who were very solicitous to

ascertain our object. Our answer to all was,
that our government being on terms of amity
with Mohammed Ali, had, with his sanction,
determined to examine and explore the Red
Sea; so that in the event of the French
again making an attempt to wrest Egypt from
the Ottoman sway, the English might be
enabled to despatch vessels up it without ex­
m periencing the same losses as on a former ex­
pedition. This explanation appeared gene­
rally to satisfy them ; since, as we walked
about during the day, all we met behaved with

civility, and our cigars were in great request.
In answer to a question whether he had been
at Mecca, a hill Bedowin replied in the
negative, and with much simplicity, inquired