Page 200 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

x.] COAST or ARABIA. 181

great favourite with the Arabs, at my side.
As usual, a number of boys crowded around.
My companion, who was standing with his
back towards them, turned suddenly round,

snatched off my wig, and flung it amidst the
group. Had my head or legs followed, they
could not have been more surprised. Some
stood open-mouthed and aghast with astonish­
ment; others scampered off; and all for some
time afterwards kept at a wary and respect­
ful distance. On another occasion, journey­
ing from Tor to Suez, and having no other
bedding than my boat-cloak, I had one night
taken up my quarters on the sand near my
camel. It was excessively cold, and towards

morning I was awakened by an extraordinary
sensation about my head. I turned round,
but did not rise until it was repeated. I then
discovered that my wig was off', my head cold
as an iceberg, and the camel amusing itself
by moistening my cranium with his broad
and file-like tongue.
At Sherm Dhoba the anchorage is small
and inconvenient, and could only be made
available for boats or small vessels. It is

likewise difficult of egress, which can only be
effected in the morning with a land-wind, at