B^crning Sprbigs in America. 321 



flections, as if the reign of terror forbade communication. Its 

 fury spent itself, like the storms of ocean, in sudden lulls 

 and squalls ; but it was not until the third or fourth interval 

 that our fears were sufficiently conquered to address each 

 other ; nor shall I soon lose the recollection of the impressive 

 manner in which that was done. " Allah kereem V^ exclaimed the 

 poor Bedouin, although habit had familiarized him with these 

 resistless blasts. " Allah kereem !" repeated the Egyptians, 

 with terrified solemnity ; and both my servant and myself, as 

 if by instinct, joined in the general exclamation. The bold 

 imagery of the Eastern poets describing the Deity as aveng- 

 ing in his anger, and terrible in his wrath, riding upon the 

 wings of the wind, and breathing his fury in the storm, must 

 have been inspired by scenes like these. 



It was now past sunset, and neither of us had yet broken 

 our fast for the day ; even the consoling pipe could not be 

 lighted in the hurricane ; and it was in vain to think of re- 

 maining in our present station, while the hope of finding some 

 bush for shelter remained. We remounted, therefore, and de- 

 parted. The young moon afforded us only a faint light, and all 

 traces of the common road were completely obliterated ; the 

 stars were not even visible through so disturbed an atmo- 

 sphere, and my compass was our only guide. The Arabs knew 

 a spot near Sheick Amidid, where banks and trees were to be 

 found, and, confiding in my direction for the course thither, we 

 resumed our journey. 



After a silent ride of five tedious hours, this garden of re- 

 pose appeared in sight ; and bleak and barren as it was, in 

 truth, fatigue and apprehension gave it the charms of Eden. 

 There we alighted, fed our weary animals, and, like sailors 

 escaped from shipwreck, regaled in that delightful conscious- 

 ness of security which is known only in the safety which suc- 

 ceeds to danger. — Buckingham'' s Journal. 



5. Burning Springs in America *. 



Springs of water charged with inflammable gas are quite 

 common in the vicinity of Canandaigua, the capital of Ontario 

 county, in the south-western part of the State of New York 



"f»0O'> m * See this Journal, No. xv- p. 183. 



VOL. X NO. II. APKIL 1829. X 



