322 EXTRACTS FROM 
our horses out of the train, for the mettlesome stallions 
neighed and sprang about so wildly that a good deal of time 
was lost before we were ready for our sport. 
A tribe of hunting Bedouins had pitched their tents near 
the station, and on our arrival these splendid fellows left their 
camp mounted on horses and camels, the Sheikh riding at 
their head on a superb chestnut mare. 
M. de Lesseps had been kind enough to invite to the neigh- 
bourhood of Ismailia this well-known tribe of hunting Arabs, 
in order that we might witness the fine spectacle of a Bedouin 
hunt for gazelles. 
The ride through the desert was truly picturesque. In 
front was the Sheikh with his pure white burnous, handsome 
saddle-equipments, and curved sabre buckled to his loins, 
while on his thickly-gloved hand sat a noble and gaily hooded 
falcon. A crowd of Bedouins, armed with long guns, sabres, 
and daggers, and all clad in flowing white robes, followed him 
on foot, on horseback, and on camels; brown warlike-looking 
fellows they were, with expressive features. Some very fine 
long-haired Persian greyhounds accompanied their masters, 
and several young falcons not yet worthy of the sheikh’s hand 
were carried after us. 
The tribe with which we were now ranging through the 
desert near the railway had been wandering about Africa for 
some time past, but really belonged to Arabia, as was easily 
seen by their high-bred horses and more sumptuous weapons 
and dress. 
Deployed in a long line we rode over the sandy ground, 
among the hills and valleys of the waste, and though we had 
started with the intention of hunting Gazelles, we should now 
have been contented even with a Desert Hare. For more 
than two hours all search had proved fruitless, and the 
Bedouins were beginning to career about impatiently and to 
take a wider range, when one of them suddenly started a 
