ARABS PROVE OUR MASTERS. 21 



prevent the recoil of so large a charge of powder, Messrs. 

 Silver and Co. had fixed to the stock one of their patent 

 vulcanite pads, which I was glad to find answered its 

 purpose very well there. Something approaching to a 

 row has been going on between our dragomans and 

 Arabs, as the latter object to starting in the morning before 

 they have said their prayers at sunrise ; but they have at 

 last submitted to this arrangement, and we may there- 

 fore escape having to crawl along under a broiling sun 

 during the heat of the day simply for their benefit. 



Dec. 31. Our early programme has been carried 

 out, but the Arabs have scored one against us, for after a 

 light repast of biscuit, and that most useful of camp 

 supplies, cocoa milk, and leaving most of our servants 

 behind to complete the packing, we made a start with 

 the understanding that we should arrive at water about 

 9 A.M., when a temporary halt would have to be made 

 to water the camels. It certainly was a great comfort 

 to us to be able to arrive before the great heat of the 

 day in a valley between two desert mountain ranges, 

 and to lie down quietly under their shade to wait the 

 arrival of our party. Here we found small holes in the 

 sand close to the rock, into which welled up a very 

 pleasant-tasting soft and clear water ; and though we 

 could afford to look upon it with suspicion, having our 

 water-bottles filled with cold tea, our Arab guide and 

 camels had good cause not to be so particular. Hour 



