DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12665#0018
1
10 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
in the mountain, as the road to Akaba. I raised
my head unconsciously, and it struck me, all of a
sudden, that I was perfectly recovered, and fit for
any journey. It was a day such as can only be
seen in the mountainous desert of Arabia, present-
ing a clearness and purity in the atmosphere, and
a gentle freshness int the air, which might almost
bring to life a dying man. I stretched myself and
brandished my Nubian club; my arm seemed
nerved with uncommon vigour, I rose in my
saddle strong as the slayer of the Philistines, and
turning the head of my dromedary towards the
opening in the mountains, called out briefly and
decidedly, to " Akaba and Petra." Paul was as-
tonished ; he took the pipe from his mouth, and
for a moment paused; then knocking out the ashes,
he slipped from his dromedary and ran up to the
side of mine, looking up in my face with an ex-
pression of countenance that seemed to intimate
strong suspicions of my sanity. After gazing at
me as steadfastly as he could without being imper-
tinent, he went away, still apparently in doubt,
and I soon saw him following with Toualeb, in
earnest conversation. Toualeb was even more
astonished than Paul. The Arabs are not used
to any of these mercurial changes of humour ; and,
according to their notion, if a man sets out for
Gaza he must go to Gaza; they cannot conceive
how one in his right reason can change his
mind; and Toualeb would have been very easily
persuaded that an evil spirit was hurrying me on,
i
10 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
in the mountain, as the road to Akaba. I raised
my head unconsciously, and it struck me, all of a
sudden, that I was perfectly recovered, and fit for
any journey. It was a day such as can only be
seen in the mountainous desert of Arabia, present-
ing a clearness and purity in the atmosphere, and
a gentle freshness int the air, which might almost
bring to life a dying man. I stretched myself and
brandished my Nubian club; my arm seemed
nerved with uncommon vigour, I rose in my
saddle strong as the slayer of the Philistines, and
turning the head of my dromedary towards the
opening in the mountains, called out briefly and
decidedly, to " Akaba and Petra." Paul was as-
tonished ; he took the pipe from his mouth, and
for a moment paused; then knocking out the ashes,
he slipped from his dromedary and ran up to the
side of mine, looking up in my face with an ex-
pression of countenance that seemed to intimate
strong suspicions of my sanity. After gazing at
me as steadfastly as he could without being imper-
tinent, he went away, still apparently in doubt,
and I soon saw him following with Toualeb, in
earnest conversation. Toualeb was even more
astonished than Paul. The Arabs are not used
to any of these mercurial changes of humour ; and,
according to their notion, if a man sets out for
Gaza he must go to Gaza; they cannot conceive
how one in his right reason can change his
mind; and Toualeb would have been very easily
persuaded that an evil spirit was hurrying me on,
i