Page 97 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

78 SHERM TO SINAI. [CM.

there is always difficulty in prevailing on the
Arabs to engage in what they consider the
useless labour of pitching it; and, from an
objection to separate their camels, they are
not easily induced to send it on before. The
greatest inconvenience which attends the tra­
veller during these short excursions arises
from the indifferent quality of the water,
for, unless measures are taken to prevent
them, the Arabs will always place it in new

skins, which, from neglect in not properly
cleansing them, and their being constantly
agitated, communicate an insufferably offen­
sive smell and taste. To prevent this, let the
traveller provide himself with tanned water­
skins brought from Masawwah and Suwakin,
and sold in the markets of Cairo, Suez, and
Jiddah.

He who wishes to encumber himself with
as little luggage as possible—and if he be
wise he will strive to do so—had better pro­
vide one of those narrow beds generally made
for sea-cots. It forms an excellent covering
for the camel, taking care to select a proper
riding-saddle (i. e. one which has a piece of
wood at either extremity.before and behind),