DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11789#0095
AN INCIDENT.
85
during the time we passed in the Holy Land, a
very unusual succession of delightful weather.
On our return to the city in the evening, an inci-
dent occurred that proved the fallacy of the doc-
trine which we frequently hear inculcated, that "a
little knowledge is worse than none at all." I had
ridden a little in advance of the rest of our party,
and entered the city by the same gate that we had
passed through in the morning, supposing that my
companions, with the guide, were immediately be-
hind. I waited a minute or two, and finding that
they did not make their appearance, repassed the
gate, but they were nowhere to be seen. It hap-
pened to be within a very few minutes of the time
of closing the gates, so that it would have been the
height of imprudence to have gone far in search of
them. I therefore re-entered the city. But what
next ? I was in a part of the town quite distant
from the hotel, and surrounded by people who
knew not a word of any European language.
There was scarcely a possibility of my finding my
way among a hundred crooked and intricate streets,
unless by the merest accident. My horse, I well
knew, did not "put up'' at our hotel, and even if
he had, the experience of the previous day had
taught me that I could not rely on his taking me
85
during the time we passed in the Holy Land, a
very unusual succession of delightful weather.
On our return to the city in the evening, an inci-
dent occurred that proved the fallacy of the doc-
trine which we frequently hear inculcated, that "a
little knowledge is worse than none at all." I had
ridden a little in advance of the rest of our party,
and entered the city by the same gate that we had
passed through in the morning, supposing that my
companions, with the guide, were immediately be-
hind. I waited a minute or two, and finding that
they did not make their appearance, repassed the
gate, but they were nowhere to be seen. It hap-
pened to be within a very few minutes of the time
of closing the gates, so that it would have been the
height of imprudence to have gone far in search of
them. I therefore re-entered the city. But what
next ? I was in a part of the town quite distant
from the hotel, and surrounded by people who
knew not a word of any European language.
There was scarcely a possibility of my finding my
way among a hundred crooked and intricate streets,
unless by the merest accident. My horse, I well
knew, did not "put up'' at our hotel, and even if
he had, the experience of the previous day had
taught me that I could not rely on his taking me