206 Letters, Announcements, t^c. 



Jebalim Arabs, engaged at Hebron, was engaged to take them as 

 far as Kerak. There seems to have been some undercurrent of 

 jealousy among the Arab tribes as to who should be the gainers 

 of the " baksheesh " to be levied from so large a party; and much 

 negotiation went on at Jerusalem previous to the start. The 

 Jehalim behaved well and faithfully, and at Kerak handed the 

 travellers over to the protection of the Medjaleh, who immediately 

 began to extort money, exacted £670, and on their arrival at the old 

 castle at Kerak told them to consider themselves prisoners unless 

 they paid a ransom of £600. They managed, however, to send off 

 a messenger at night to the British Consul at Jerusalem ; but 

 meanwhile their old friend the Beni Sakki Sheik appeared on the 

 scene ; and under his powerful protection they were safe. He 

 had come from Jerusalem, where he had contracted to convey 

 the party from Kerak. Under his wing they departed, nothing 

 more being said of the j6600. 



The Turkish Government took up the matter very promptly, 

 on the representation of the British Consul, and a large body 

 of troops was at once sent to release the captives. This was 

 providentially unnecessary; but as there are one or two old 

 scores against the tribe to be wiped off, it is probable that they 

 have ere this been compelled to disgorge their treacherously ob- 

 tained plunder, the Government being fully determined on 

 punishment. 



On the 16th of February the travellers were at Aroer, all well 

 and hard at work at their scientific labours. We congratulate 

 our brother " Ibis " on his escape from the " snare of the 

 fowler." 



In a letter to Mr. Sclater, dated fronf Ningpo, Mr. Swinhoe 

 writes, " I am sending you descriptions of two new Pheasants 

 and a fine Garrulax procured from the inner mountains of this 

 province. Of the Pheasants, one is a typical Pheasant and the 

 other a Pucras. This province has been more wandered over by 

 Europeans than any other in China ; and it is curious that such 

 fine birds have not been stumbled over before. There is much 

 to be done here. The plain we live in contains little worthy of 

 notice except Mecistura glaucogularis and Anthus japonicus ; but 



