DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11789#0116
106
EL BEER.
is suffering from a slight pulmonary affection, and
is travelling for his health. 'The third is our drago-
man, •whom I shall call Yakoob, a good-natured,
and very cunning—or, to speak more respectfully—
very adroit fellow, who, born in Alexandria, of
Arab parents, had, when very young, gone to Eng-
land, where, as cabin boy and waiter on different
steamboats, he learned to speak English quite
fluently, acquired no inconsiderable " knowledge of
the world," and perfected himself in various other
accomplishments, which he subsequently turned to
profitable account—but of this hereafter. With
the fourth and last—whom, to avoid all appear-
ance of egotism, I shall leave unnamed—you are
already somewhat acquainted. There were, besides,
two muleteers, who had charge of the mules that
carried our tent, cooking utensils, &c, and who
took care of our horses when we stopped for rest or
refreshment.
The first evening of our journey we pitched our
tent near El Beer,* (" The Well, or Fountain,") a
small town, or village, which owes all its importance
* The Beeroth of the Hebrews, said to lie the place
where his parents missed Jesus, when they returned and
found him disputing with the doctors in Jerusalem, as re-
lated in Luke ii. 42-50.
EL BEER.
is suffering from a slight pulmonary affection, and
is travelling for his health. 'The third is our drago-
man, •whom I shall call Yakoob, a good-natured,
and very cunning—or, to speak more respectfully—
very adroit fellow, who, born in Alexandria, of
Arab parents, had, when very young, gone to Eng-
land, where, as cabin boy and waiter on different
steamboats, he learned to speak English quite
fluently, acquired no inconsiderable " knowledge of
the world," and perfected himself in various other
accomplishments, which he subsequently turned to
profitable account—but of this hereafter. With
the fourth and last—whom, to avoid all appear-
ance of egotism, I shall leave unnamed—you are
already somewhat acquainted. There were, besides,
two muleteers, who had charge of the mules that
carried our tent, cooking utensils, &c, and who
took care of our horses when we stopped for rest or
refreshment.
The first evening of our journey we pitched our
tent near El Beer,* (" The Well, or Fountain,") a
small town, or village, which owes all its importance
* The Beeroth of the Hebrews, said to lie the place
where his parents missed Jesus, when they returned and
found him disputing with the doctors in Jerusalem, as re-
lated in Luke ii. 42-50.