36 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



with regard to the deceptive character of this mirage, 

 which had best be repeated in his own words : 



' Many years ago, when the Egyptian troops first 

 conquered Nubia, a regiment was destroyed by thirst in 

 crossing this desert. The men, being upon a limited 

 allowance of water, suffered from extreme thirst, and 

 deceived by the appearance of a mirage that exactly 

 resembled a beautiful lake, they insisted on being taken to 

 its banks by the Arab guide. It was in vain that the guide 

 assured them that the lake was umeal, and he refused to 

 waste the precious time by wandering from his course. 

 Words led to blows, and he was killed by the soldiers, 

 whose lives depended upon his guidance. The whole 

 regiment turned from the track, and rushed towards the 

 welcome waters. Thirsty and faint, over the burning 

 sands they hurried ; heavier and heavier their footsteps 

 became hotter and hotter their breath, as deeper they 

 pushed into the desert farther and farther from the lost 

 track, where the pilot lay in his blood ; and still the 

 mocking spirits of the desert, the afreets of the mirage, 

 led them on, and the lake glistening in the sunshine 

 tempted them to bathe in its cool waters, close to their 

 eyes but never at their lips. At length the delusion 

 vanished the fatal lake had turned to burning sand ! 

 Raging thirst and horrible despair! The pathless desert 

 and the murdered guide ! lost ! lost ! all lost ! Not a 

 man ever left the desert, but they were subsequently dis- 



