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 tlae 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 



