50 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



dismounted to breathe the horses. The servants, 

 taking the direction of Mecca from the position of 

 the rising sun, fell on their knees, and muttered 

 over their prayers. The gholaum had put himself 

 in a conspicuous position in front ; and there he re- 

 mained as a sort of fugleman to the rest. 



From the commanding spot on "which we stood, 

 the eye ranged over a wide extent of mountain-slopes 

 and mountain-summits fading blue into the distance. 

 The hollows were thickly wooded with the sturdy 

 blackthorn-tree, and a species of dwarf oak. It was 

 one of the most enjoyable views I had seen in this 

 country of level plains and desert wastes. From the 

 tower we commenced the descent to the plain of Dust- 

 Arjun : once in the plain, we struck across it, and 

 passed the village of the same name, nearly all in 

 ruins. The road beyond led away to the edge of the 

 plain, and along the base of a scarped mountain-side. 

 This reared itself up like a giant Avail, and out of it 

 were gushing several springs of water. These formed 

 below into one clear limpid stream, which meandered 

 away to the left through the grassy plain. About 

 two miles beyond this we crossed another small 

 stream, and entered the village of Musheer a little 

 walled place, containing about six houses. "We had 

 ridden on a little ahead of the mules, and as the sun 

 was very hot, we pulled up under the gateway, and 

 waited there till the mules came up. We were at 

 once surrounded by the inhabitants. The women, 



