Page 58 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

»-] TOTi TO SUEZ. 39

The Bedovvins are very proud of the mettle
of their camels. When it was proposed to
start again this evening, considering the time

we had already been mounted, and our last
spirited run, I couhl not help hinting to
Hamed that his beasts would most probably
be fatigued, and incapable of work on the
morrow: he immediately flew into a violent
passion, and swore if such should prove the
case with either, he would instantly cut its
throat; and although we journeyed until two

o’clock, making the time we had been mounted
twenty hours, these patient animals evinced
neither weariness nor disinclination to pro­
ceed. We now encamped in Wadi Usaitu,
where there are a few date palms, and some
wells of water.
January 29th. Quitting Wadi Usaitu at an
early hour this morning, we proceeded at
a round pace, and soon entered Girandel,
which is more shallow, but broader than the
other valleys, and abounds in tamarisks and

acacias. Some few clumps of date palms are
also visible.

Two hours further brought us to the bitter
waters of Howard, which I concluded to be