216
INCIDENTS OP TRAVEL.
In the wildest, rudest scene where woman appears
at all, there is a sweet and ^indefinable charm ; and
their appearance among the pilgrims, the care with
which they shrouded themselves from every eye,
their long thick veils, and their tents or four-post beds
with curtains of red silk, fastened down all around,
and secured on the high backs of camels, were the
most striking objects in the caravan. Next to
them in interest were the miserable figures of the
marabouts, santons, or Arab saints, having only a
scanty covering of rags over their shoulders, and
the rest of their bodies completely naked, yet strut-
ting about as if clothed in purple and fine linen ;
and setting off utterly destitute of every thing, for a
journey of months across the desert, safely trusting
to that open-handed charity which forms so con-
spicuous an item in the list of Mussulman virtues.
But the object of universal interest was the great
box containing the presents and decorations for the
tomb of the Prophet. The camel which bears this
sacred burden is adorned with banners and rich
housings, is watched and tended with pious care,
and when his journey is ended, no meaner load
can touch his back; he has filled the measure
of a camel's glory, and lives and dies respected by
all good Mussulmans.
In the evening, being the last of my stay in
Cairo, I heard that Mr. Linant, the companion of
M. Laborde on his visit to Petra, had arrived at
Alexandria, and, with Mr. Gliddon, went to see him.
Mr. L. is one of the many French emigres driven
from their native soil by political convulsions, and
INCIDENTS OP TRAVEL.
In the wildest, rudest scene where woman appears
at all, there is a sweet and ^indefinable charm ; and
their appearance among the pilgrims, the care with
which they shrouded themselves from every eye,
their long thick veils, and their tents or four-post beds
with curtains of red silk, fastened down all around,
and secured on the high backs of camels, were the
most striking objects in the caravan. Next to
them in interest were the miserable figures of the
marabouts, santons, or Arab saints, having only a
scanty covering of rags over their shoulders, and
the rest of their bodies completely naked, yet strut-
ting about as if clothed in purple and fine linen ;
and setting off utterly destitute of every thing, for a
journey of months across the desert, safely trusting
to that open-handed charity which forms so con-
spicuous an item in the list of Mussulman virtues.
But the object of universal interest was the great
box containing the presents and decorations for the
tomb of the Prophet. The camel which bears this
sacred burden is adorned with banners and rich
housings, is watched and tended with pious care,
and when his journey is ended, no meaner load
can touch his back; he has filled the measure
of a camel's glory, and lives and dies respected by
all good Mussulmans.
In the evening, being the last of my stay in
Cairo, I heard that Mr. Linant, the companion of
M. Laborde on his visit to Petra, had arrived at
Alexandria, and, with Mr. Gliddon, went to see him.
Mr. L. is one of the many French emigres driven
from their native soil by political convulsions, and