Page 48 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

»•] TOR TO SUEZ. 29

abstemious from choice ; I never saw them
refuse good cheer when it offered itself. I
had a good practical illustration of this re­
mark here. The guides I had with me had
accompanied some of my brother officers on a
previous occasion to Mount Sinai, and had
shared in those goods of this life which our
worthy countrymen rarely, save from neces­
sity, will consent to relinquish. In the ex­
pectation of similar treatment they had mani­

fested much readiness to accompany me; but,
on witnessing my scanty store, and being told
they would be left to their own resources, they
one and all threatened to leave me on the
morrow. It was not without considerable
persuasion, backed by a large portion of a
flask of brandy, that I succeeded in restoring
them to good humour. Their food during
the rest of the journey consisted of a few
beans shared twice a-day with their camels;
water, and that sparingly, was not taken
oftener.
It cannot have escaped the notice of travel­

lers that these men, often noisy, insolent, and
troublesome previous to setting out, generally
become as remarkable for civility and willing-