DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5475#0068
44 TREACHEROUS ARABS.
repose. Whilst Messrs. Banks and Beechy re-
mained extended beneath the tree, the rest of our
party went to the banks of the Nile; upon which
our attendants, presuming that those gentlemen
had fallen asleep, seized the opportunity to mount
the camels and run away. What urged them to
this step probably was, that Mr. Banks wished
that as soon as we arrived opposite the spot where
Hassan KashePs brother was, we should cross over
to the opposite bank of the Nile, in order to deliver
the letters from his brother, and at the same time
to see the temple of Amara. Our people fearing
that in crossing the river some of their camels
might be lost in the eddies of the cataract, and
not choosing to be forced to it, took the occasion
of our absence to decamp. This was indeed a day
of distress for us, for we found ourselves compelled
to remain in a spot where there was not a trace of
a living being. After some deliberation, however,
we decided upon sending to one of the villages
on the opposite bank of the river, to procure us
a sort of ferry-raft, on which we could all cross
over to the other side. The man whom we sent
on this expedition was a Nubian, who served
us as interpreter, and he crossed the river on
an inflated bladder, which the Arabs make use
repose. Whilst Messrs. Banks and Beechy re-
mained extended beneath the tree, the rest of our
party went to the banks of the Nile; upon which
our attendants, presuming that those gentlemen
had fallen asleep, seized the opportunity to mount
the camels and run away. What urged them to
this step probably was, that Mr. Banks wished
that as soon as we arrived opposite the spot where
Hassan KashePs brother was, we should cross over
to the opposite bank of the Nile, in order to deliver
the letters from his brother, and at the same time
to see the temple of Amara. Our people fearing
that in crossing the river some of their camels
might be lost in the eddies of the cataract, and
not choosing to be forced to it, took the occasion
of our absence to decamp. This was indeed a day
of distress for us, for we found ourselves compelled
to remain in a spot where there was not a trace of
a living being. After some deliberation, however,
we decided upon sending to one of the villages
on the opposite bank of the river, to procure us
a sort of ferry-raft, on which we could all cross
over to the other side. The man whom we sent
on this expedition was a Nubian, who served
us as interpreter, and he crossed the river on
an inflated bladder, which the Arabs make use