DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12665#0041
32
INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
bathed their feet in the water. In one place the
side of the mountain rose so directly and abruptly
from the water's edge, that we had to turn aside
and pass around it, coming again to the shore after
about an hour's ride. Here we saw the gulf nar-
rowing towards its extremity; and on the oppo-
site side a cluster of palm-trees, within which, and
completely hidden from view, was the end of our
first stage, the fortress of Akaba. Never was the ,
sight of one of the dearest objects on earth, home
to the wanderer, land to the sailor, or a mistress to
the lover, more welcome than the sight of those
palm-trees to me. The malady under which I had
been labouring had grown upon me every day;
and in spite of all that was rich and interesting,
time after time I had regretted my rashness in
throwing myself so far into the desert The repose,
therefore, which awaited me at Akaba, seemed the
most precious thing on earth.
Towards evening we could see Akaba more
distinctly, though still on the opposite side of the
gulf, and still at a formidable distance to me. A
brisk trot would have carried me there in an hour ;
but this was more than I could bear, supported as
I was by a mattress on each side of me, and
barely able to sustain the slow and measured
movement of a walk. Night was again coming
on, and heavy clouds were gathering in the east.
I was extremely anxious to sleep within the for-
tress that night; and, fearful that a stranger would
not be admitted after dark, I sent Paul on ahead
INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
bathed their feet in the water. In one place the
side of the mountain rose so directly and abruptly
from the water's edge, that we had to turn aside
and pass around it, coming again to the shore after
about an hour's ride. Here we saw the gulf nar-
rowing towards its extremity; and on the oppo-
site side a cluster of palm-trees, within which, and
completely hidden from view, was the end of our
first stage, the fortress of Akaba. Never was the ,
sight of one of the dearest objects on earth, home
to the wanderer, land to the sailor, or a mistress to
the lover, more welcome than the sight of those
palm-trees to me. The malady under which I had
been labouring had grown upon me every day;
and in spite of all that was rich and interesting,
time after time I had regretted my rashness in
throwing myself so far into the desert The repose,
therefore, which awaited me at Akaba, seemed the
most precious thing on earth.
Towards evening we could see Akaba more
distinctly, though still on the opposite side of the
gulf, and still at a formidable distance to me. A
brisk trot would have carried me there in an hour ;
but this was more than I could bear, supported as
I was by a mattress on each side of me, and
barely able to sustain the slow and measured
movement of a walk. Night was again coming
on, and heavy clouds were gathering in the east.
I was extremely anxious to sleep within the for-
tress that night; and, fearful that a stranger would
not be admitted after dark, I sent Paul on ahead