DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0187
176
INCIDENTS GF TRAVEL.
At 12 o'clock the last sack of biscuit was packed
upon the camels, and I mounted a fine dromedary,
while my companions bade farewell to their wives,
children, and friends ; a farewell so calm and quiet,
particularly for a people whose blood was warmed
by the burning sun of Africa, that it seemed cold
and-heartless.
My caravan consisted of six camels, or rather
four camels and two dromedaries, four camel-
drivers armed with swords, eight men with pistols
and muskets, Paul, and myself. It was the first
time I had undertaken a journey in the desert. My
first endeavour was to learn something of the char-
acter of my companions, and even Paul became
perfectly satisfied and pleased with the journey,
when upon acquaintance he found that their ugly
outsides gave no true indication of the inward
man.
Our guide, he who was to conduct us through
the pathless desert, was not yet with us ; he lived
at a village about four miles distant, and a messen-
ger had been sent forward to advise him of our com-
ing. Riding for the last time among the ruined
temples of Thebes, beyond the limits of the ancient
city, our road lay behind the valley bordering the
river, and along the edge of the desert. On one
side was one of the richest and most extensive val-
leys of the Nile, well cultivated, and at this season
of the year covered with the richest greens; on
the other were barren mountains and a sandy des-
ert.
In about four hours we saw, crossing the valley,
INCIDENTS GF TRAVEL.
At 12 o'clock the last sack of biscuit was packed
upon the camels, and I mounted a fine dromedary,
while my companions bade farewell to their wives,
children, and friends ; a farewell so calm and quiet,
particularly for a people whose blood was warmed
by the burning sun of Africa, that it seemed cold
and-heartless.
My caravan consisted of six camels, or rather
four camels and two dromedaries, four camel-
drivers armed with swords, eight men with pistols
and muskets, Paul, and myself. It was the first
time I had undertaken a journey in the desert. My
first endeavour was to learn something of the char-
acter of my companions, and even Paul became
perfectly satisfied and pleased with the journey,
when upon acquaintance he found that their ugly
outsides gave no true indication of the inward
man.
Our guide, he who was to conduct us through
the pathless desert, was not yet with us ; he lived
at a village about four miles distant, and a messen-
ger had been sent forward to advise him of our com-
ing. Riding for the last time among the ruined
temples of Thebes, beyond the limits of the ancient
city, our road lay behind the valley bordering the
river, and along the edge of the desert. On one
side was one of the richest and most extensive val-
leys of the Nile, well cultivated, and at this season
of the year covered with the richest greens; on
the other were barren mountains and a sandy des-
ert.
In about four hours we saw, crossing the valley,