DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12665#0116
100
INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
but every one, old and young, big and little, carried
an enormous sword slung over his back, the hilt
coming up towards the left shoulder; and in his
hand a large club, with a knot at the end as large
as a doubled fist. Though I had no idea of ma-
king any resistance, it was a satisfaction to feel
that they might have some respect for our fire-
arms ; as even a Bedouin's logic can teach him,
that though a gun or pistol can kill but one,
no man in a crowd can tell but that he may be
that one. Our armory, however, was not in the
best condition for immediate use. I had fired one
of my pistols in the tomb of Aaron, and lost the
flint of the other; and Paul had burst the priming
cap on one of his barrels, and the other was
charged with bird-shot.
It seemed thafthere was nothing hostile in their
intentions ; for though they came upon us with a
wild and clamorous shout, their dark eyes ap-
peared to sparkle with delight as they shook us by
the hand, and their tumultuous greeting, to compare
small things with great, reminded me of the wild
welcome which the Arabs of Saladin gave to the
litter of the Queen of England, when approaching
the Diamond of the Desert on the shores of the
Dead Sea. Nevertheless, I looked suspiciously
upon all their demonstrations of good-will; and,
though I returned all their greetings, even to the
kiss on their black faces, I would rather have been
looking at them through the bars of an iron grating.
But Paul behaved like a hero; although he was a
INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
but every one, old and young, big and little, carried
an enormous sword slung over his back, the hilt
coming up towards the left shoulder; and in his
hand a large club, with a knot at the end as large
as a doubled fist. Though I had no idea of ma-
king any resistance, it was a satisfaction to feel
that they might have some respect for our fire-
arms ; as even a Bedouin's logic can teach him,
that though a gun or pistol can kill but one,
no man in a crowd can tell but that he may be
that one. Our armory, however, was not in the
best condition for immediate use. I had fired one
of my pistols in the tomb of Aaron, and lost the
flint of the other; and Paul had burst the priming
cap on one of his barrels, and the other was
charged with bird-shot.
It seemed thafthere was nothing hostile in their
intentions ; for though they came upon us with a
wild and clamorous shout, their dark eyes ap-
peared to sparkle with delight as they shook us by
the hand, and their tumultuous greeting, to compare
small things with great, reminded me of the wild
welcome which the Arabs of Saladin gave to the
litter of the Queen of England, when approaching
the Diamond of the Desert on the shores of the
Dead Sea. Nevertheless, I looked suspiciously
upon all their demonstrations of good-will; and,
though I returned all their greetings, even to the
kiss on their black faces, I would rather have been
looking at them through the bars of an iron grating.
But Paul behaved like a hero; although he was a