DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11789#0108
98
A CATASTROPHE.
narrow ledge which seemed to furnish a path to
one of the entrances alluded to. After incredible
exertions and extreme hazard, they arrived within
a few yards of the place, but here the narrow and
dangerous pathway came to a termination, and they
were at last obliged to descend without having ac-
complished their object. Our guide, who spoke
scarcely a word of English, related to Mr. K-,
who had some knowledge of Arabic, a catastrophe
that had occurred at this very spot two or three years
previous. An Englishman, anxious to explore these
excavations, had employed a Bedouin to guide and
assist him in ascending to the place, but the guide
unfortunately missing his foothold, had been pre-
cipitated down the side of the rock, perhaps one
hundred or one hundred and twenty feet, and in-
stantly killed. Our Arab, in describing it, used
many signs. It was enough to make one's "blood
thrill and curdle" to hear him, as he imitated with
his mouth the noise of a body sliding with incon-
ceivable swiftness down the surface of the rock,
then stopping suddenly with that heavy but fearful
sound, which marked the end of the earthly career
of the ill-fated guide.
At evening, the Arabs built fires around our tent
and kept a constant watch throughout the night.
This was probably done more for appearance sake
A CATASTROPHE.
narrow ledge which seemed to furnish a path to
one of the entrances alluded to. After incredible
exertions and extreme hazard, they arrived within
a few yards of the place, but here the narrow and
dangerous pathway came to a termination, and they
were at last obliged to descend without having ac-
complished their object. Our guide, who spoke
scarcely a word of English, related to Mr. K-,
who had some knowledge of Arabic, a catastrophe
that had occurred at this very spot two or three years
previous. An Englishman, anxious to explore these
excavations, had employed a Bedouin to guide and
assist him in ascending to the place, but the guide
unfortunately missing his foothold, had been pre-
cipitated down the side of the rock, perhaps one
hundred or one hundred and twenty feet, and in-
stantly killed. Our Arab, in describing it, used
many signs. It was enough to make one's "blood
thrill and curdle" to hear him, as he imitated with
his mouth the noise of a body sliding with incon-
ceivable swiftness down the surface of the rock,
then stopping suddenly with that heavy but fearful
sound, which marked the end of the earthly career
of the ill-fated guide.
At evening, the Arabs built fires around our tent
and kept a constant watch throughout the night.
This was probably done more for appearance sake