144 THE CAMEL. 



for the same purpose, as a Yankee ' whittles a 

 stick' in swapping horses. You must draw 

 your contract as carefully as with an Italian 

 vetturino ; and you may be very sm-e that if in 

 the course of your journey you ask any deviation 

 from the route, delay, or other indulgence ' not 

 i' the bond,' you will have a good round price to 

 pay for it. Upon concluding the bargain, you 

 usually pay a part of the sum stipulated, in ad- 

 vance, and when at the end of your journey the 

 sheikh comes to your tent to make his last 

 salaam and receive your final compliments, he 

 will again remind you of your old friend the 

 vetturino, by a request for a teskereh^ (Hibernice, 

 ' character,') and a very significant hint, that he 

 cannot believe you sincere in the expression of 

 your satisfaction with his services and attentions, 

 unless you seal your testimony with a back- 

 sheesh, 



" You are now to procure your tents and other 

 camp equipage and travelling gear, as well as 

 your supplies, and, thanks to English love of 

 comfort, you will find in all the great towns in 

 the vicinity of the Desert every facility for mak- 

 ing the journey not only conveniently but lux- 

 uriously. English travellers have introduced a 

 multitude of portable contrivances in the way 

 of camp-furniture, and by the aid of these and 

 with due foresight in laying in your stores, you 



