DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5073#0423
410 ENTRY INTO DAMASCUS.
were thankful that the good Sheikh ordained a rest, for
the sake of the camels, under the shade of the thick
lofty trees about Doumah, which had seemed hopelessly
far off. My sister's camel, the dear Simri, had lagged
latterly very much, and she dismounted, hoping thus to
relieve the tired beast, but within a few yards of Doumah
the poor thing knelt down on the road side, and lay
there till she died two days after. We had a most
refreshing meal of grapes and delicious fresh leben
(sour milk) under the trees, before we remounted; my
sister was given a very fine white dromedary, and we
all set off racing each other at a brisk trot.
We had a grand entry into Damascus; about two
hours' distance from the town we met the beautiful and
almost priceless mares of the Sheikh, out exercising, and
he immediately mounted his favourite and galloped wildly
and gaily all round the cavalcade. The dromedaries
knew very well how near they were to home, and they
went merrily along while the Argeels brushed them up,
re-arranged their own kefiyehs, and then burst out into
choruses of songs, screaming and shouting, and some of
them standing up and dancing on the camels' backs
amid peals of laughter, while the darabooka played
unceasing rub-a-dubs of the noisiest description. Very
merry and bright it was; the road was lively with people,
to whom the astonishing fact of our long stay at Tadmor
was again and again related, and a thousand welcomes
were shouted to Sheikh Miguel as one after another re-
cognised him. Most cool, refreshing, and delightful did
the green trees overhanging the rough paths, the bright
gardens, and thousand rushing streamlets appear to
our Desert-used eyes. I need not say how still more wel-
come the excellent hotel beds felt to our wearied bodies
were thankful that the good Sheikh ordained a rest, for
the sake of the camels, under the shade of the thick
lofty trees about Doumah, which had seemed hopelessly
far off. My sister's camel, the dear Simri, had lagged
latterly very much, and she dismounted, hoping thus to
relieve the tired beast, but within a few yards of Doumah
the poor thing knelt down on the road side, and lay
there till she died two days after. We had a most
refreshing meal of grapes and delicious fresh leben
(sour milk) under the trees, before we remounted; my
sister was given a very fine white dromedary, and we
all set off racing each other at a brisk trot.
We had a grand entry into Damascus; about two
hours' distance from the town we met the beautiful and
almost priceless mares of the Sheikh, out exercising, and
he immediately mounted his favourite and galloped wildly
and gaily all round the cavalcade. The dromedaries
knew very well how near they were to home, and they
went merrily along while the Argeels brushed them up,
re-arranged their own kefiyehs, and then burst out into
choruses of songs, screaming and shouting, and some of
them standing up and dancing on the camels' backs
amid peals of laughter, while the darabooka played
unceasing rub-a-dubs of the noisiest description. Very
merry and bright it was; the road was lively with people,
to whom the astonishing fact of our long stay at Tadmor
was again and again related, and a thousand welcomes
were shouted to Sheikh Miguel as one after another re-
cognised him. Most cool, refreshing, and delightful did
the green trees overhanging the rough paths, the bright
gardens, and thousand rushing streamlets appear to
our Desert-used eyes. I need not say how still more wel-
come the excellent hotel beds felt to our wearied bodies