558 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



they did, it was in whifpers, by which I eafdy gueffed their 

 difcourfe was not favourable to me, or elfe that they were 

 increafing each others fears, by vain fuggeftions calculated 

 to fink each others fpirits ftill further, but from which no 

 earthly good could poflibly refult. I called them together, 

 and both reprimanded and exhorted them in the flrongeft 

 manner I could ; I bade them attend to me, who had nearly 

 loft my voice by the fimoom, and defired them to look at 

 my face, fo fwelled as fcarcely to permit me to fee; my 

 neck covered with blifters, my feet fwelled and inflamed, 

 and bleeding with many wounds. In anfwer to the lamen- 

 tation that the water was exhaufted, and that we were upon 

 the point of dying with thirft, I ordered each man a gourd 

 full of water more than he had the preceding day, and 

 fliewed them, at no great diilance, the bare, black, and fliarp 

 point of the rock Chiggre, wherein was the well at which 

 we were again to fill our girbas, and thereby baniih the fear 

 of dying by thirft in the defert. I believe I never was at 

 any time more eloquent, and never had eloquence a more 

 fudden efFedt. They all protefted and declared their con- 

 cern chiefly arofe from the fituation they fav/ me in ; that 

 they feared not death or hardlhip, provided I would fubmit 

 a little to their direftion in the taking a proper care of my- 

 fclf. They intreated me to ufe one of the camels, and throw 

 ofiT the load that it carried, that it would eafe me, of the 

 wounds in my feet, by riding at leaft part of the day. This 

 I pofitively refufed to do, but recommended to them to be 

 ftrong of heart, and to fpare the camels for the laft re- 

 fource, if any fliould be taken ill and unable to walk any 



longer. 



This 



