A DESERT SUNSET. 33 



wards in the direction of our route towered up before us 

 range beyond range of innumerable peaks of mountains, 

 some of them so perfectly pyramidal in form that they 

 appeared to have been chiselled out. Eastwards was 

 a nearer range upon which the setting sun threw such 

 strange shadows that one moment from their depth it 

 seemed as if these bare rocks were covered with forests ; 

 whilst at another moment, from their varied shades of 

 colour, one could imagine that each mountain had its 

 own special ore. Past them wended their slow way our 

 long string of baggage-camels, followed by our riding- 

 camels, the latter adding somewhat to this perfect 

 ^Eastern scene by the bright red colour of their 

 trappings ; and then the sun went down and gave place 

 to the glorious after-glow, when objects for a few 

 moments became more distinct, as sometimes in the last 

 flicker of his life does the intellect of the dying man 

 clear up, and then, as in a moment night. 



It was very late when we encamped, for our men 

 \vere afraid of halting near a mountain the supposed 

 haunt of wild beasts ; but we finally arrived at a village 

 named Gadama, according to Albert, who says it con- 

 sists of five cottages, four dogs, and some cows. 



We are obliged to accept Albert as an authority, 

 because he went this desert journey twice with mer- 

 chandise four years ago. 



Jan. 10. Our progress to-day was soon cut short 



D 



