DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0250
EMBARCATION OF PILGRIMS.
239
at the mouth of the harbour ; they were wading up
to their middle, every one with something on his
shoulders or above his head. Thirty or forty had
already got on board, and as many more were try-
ing to do the same ; but the boat was already full.
A loud wrangling commenced, succeeded by
clinching, throttling, splashing in the water, and
running to the shore. I saw bright swords gleam-
ing in the air, heard the ominous click of a pistol,
and in one moment more blood would have been
shed, but for a Turkish aga, who had been watch-
ing the scene from the governor's balcony, and now
dashing in among them with a huge silver-headed
mace, and laying about him right and left, brought
the turbulent pilgrims to a condition more suited
to their sacred character.
At about nine o'clock I sent off my camels to go
round the head of the gulf, intending to cross over
in a boat and meet them. At the moment they
left the roguel, two friends were holding up a quilt
before the body of the dead Tartar, while a third
was within, washing and preparing it for burial.
At twelve o'clock I got on board my boat; she was
like the others, sharp built, with a high poop and
tall latteen sails, and, for the first time in all my
travelling, I began to think a voyage better than a
journey. In addition to the greater ease and pleas-
antness, there was something new and exciting in
the passage of the Red Sea ; and we had hardly
given our large latteen sails to the wind, before I
began to talk with the rais about carrying me
down to Tor; but he told me the boat was too
239
at the mouth of the harbour ; they were wading up
to their middle, every one with something on his
shoulders or above his head. Thirty or forty had
already got on board, and as many more were try-
ing to do the same ; but the boat was already full.
A loud wrangling commenced, succeeded by
clinching, throttling, splashing in the water, and
running to the shore. I saw bright swords gleam-
ing in the air, heard the ominous click of a pistol,
and in one moment more blood would have been
shed, but for a Turkish aga, who had been watch-
ing the scene from the governor's balcony, and now
dashing in among them with a huge silver-headed
mace, and laying about him right and left, brought
the turbulent pilgrims to a condition more suited
to their sacred character.
At about nine o'clock I sent off my camels to go
round the head of the gulf, intending to cross over
in a boat and meet them. At the moment they
left the roguel, two friends were holding up a quilt
before the body of the dead Tartar, while a third
was within, washing and preparing it for burial.
At twelve o'clock I got on board my boat; she was
like the others, sharp built, with a high poop and
tall latteen sails, and, for the first time in all my
travelling, I began to think a voyage better than a
journey. In addition to the greater ease and pleas-
antness, there was something new and exciting in
the passage of the Red Sea ; and we had hardly
given our large latteen sails to the wind, before I
began to talk with the rais about carrying me
down to Tor; but he told me the boat was too