120 MEMOIR OP BURCKHARDT. 



believe every stranger who uses writing implements 

 to be a necromancer, who will steal their hidden 

 treasures or inflict evils on their country. 



Such being the case, Burckhardt had to resort to 

 many little ingenious stratagems, not to lose entirely 

 the advantage of taking his memoranda on the spot. 

 He had accustomed himself to write when mounted 

 on his camel, and proceeding at an easy walk. 

 Throwinof the wide Arab mantle over his head, as 

 if to protect himself from the sun, as the Bedouins 

 do, he could take notes under it unobserved, even 

 though another person rode close by him. His 

 journal books being only about four inches long and 

 three broad, were easily carried in his waistcoat 

 pocket ; and when taken out, could be concealed in 

 the palm of the hand. Sometimes he dismounted 

 and walked a little in front, or turned aside, and 

 feigned to couch down in the Arab fashion, hidden 

 under his cloak ; again, at halting-places, he would 

 stretch himself on the ground as if to sleep, throw- 

 ing his mantle over him ; and by these artifices he 

 succeeded in keeping pretty full accounts of what 

 he saw or heard, without exciting observation or 

 suspicion. 



Only once, near Sinai, he was discovered by 

 his guide. Having had no opportunity of taking 

 notes for two days, he turned aside for a short 

 time; but remained so long, that Ayd's curiosity 

 was roused, and approaching on tiptoe, he came 

 close behind him without being perceived, and sud- 

 denly lifting up the cloak, he detected his friend 



