<A JOURNEY IN THE EAST: 369 



on reaching it the trail led me over a meadow, through bushes, 

 and along a stony stream with some muddy spots, to the edge 

 of a thicket. There I awaited the arrival of my two com- 

 panions and the Bedouins. 



The dogs were immediately put upon the trail, and in a 

 few minutes I heard the joyful sound of their baying and of 

 a fierce fight, and hurrying through the dense undergrowth I 

 reached a little glade surrounded by trees and bushes, in the 

 middle of which a violent struggle was going on. The dogs 

 were behaving bravely, barking savagely, and tugging and 

 biting at the boar, which was still defending itself with pluck 

 and vigour. Seizing a favourable moment I gave the powerful 

 finely-tusked animal a finishing shot. 



I had now time to look about jne, and saw through the 

 high trees and dense bushes the sparkle of water, and heard 

 the rushing sound of a river. I quickly called out to my 

 companions to tell them of the happy discovery, for, thanks to 

 our pursuit of the wounded boar, our desires had at last been 

 gratified, and we had reached the far-famed Jordan, the sacred 

 stream, which we had imagined to be much further away. 



The river has quite the character of a true mountain-stream, 

 and seeing it rushing along and splashing merrily about the 

 rocks and stones, one might have thought one's self transported 

 to the banks of the Enns or the Traun, among our beautiful 

 Alps. 



After bathing in the Jordan we felt strengthened and re- 

 freshed, and, followed by our Bedouins, went back along the 

 boar's track, and through the valley up to the edge of the 

 plateau, from which we had descended. There we mounted 

 our horses, and guided by Salim rode off at full gallop straight 

 across the steppe. Passing the spot where we had begun to 

 shoot in the morning, we proceeded up the valley, the bottom 

 of which was clothed with luxuriant vegetation, while the 

 heights which enclosed it were of the invariable character of 



2B 



