Page 55 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

36 t6r TO SUEZ. [CH.

reigned around, interrupted only by the mo­
notonous tramp of the camel, as we wound
our way slowly and sleepily along; and all
tended to produce feelings of loneliness and
melancholy in perfect keeping with the cha­
racter of these wilds.

During the heat of the day the Bedowins,
as on this occasion, wrap themselves up in
their cloaks, fold their legs beneath them,
and go to sleep on their camels: were an
European to attempt this, his slumbers would
most probably terminate in a coup de soldi.
We continued along Wadi Taibi. Near its
termination tamarisk-trees appear, and also a
species of rush growing in swampy ground,

where, by digging, water of indifferent quality
may be procured.
We had heard so much of the powerful in­
fluence of Mohammed Ali in these regions,
that no idea of molestation from the Bedowins
had ever occurred to me, and I was much
surprised, therefore, near this spot, to observe
Hamed, who was riding some distance in
front, make a sudden halt, and by some sign
familiar to the animal, cause his camel to
drop suddenly on his knees, while he mo-