CH. XIX.] A Pool of Rain IVatcr. 85 



some doubt as to wlietlier tlic marnao-c is a Icn-al 

 one. 



As soon as our camels liad arrived at the new 

 lialting-place, and the tents liad been pitched, wi- 

 went oft' in search of water for our mares, leaving 

 the lout Turki sprawling in our tent. The mares 

 had had none yesterday, and were suffering from 

 want of it in the hot sun. Jedaan's people ^\•erc' 

 equally without Avater, but they were either too lazy 

 to fetch it or indifterent about their beasts' comfort ; 

 and, though they talked vaguely of water being close 

 l)y, they made no move towards it. So we Avent 

 tiway by ourselves with Mohammed in the direction 

 pointed out to us, and about three miles off found a 

 large pool of rain-Avater, beyond A\d]ich another Be- 

 douin camp Avas established. The mares, poor things, 

 Avere very glad to get their noses into the muddy 

 AA^ater, and Ave thought Avould never stop drinking. 

 My Nej dean mare, however, is a very curious drinker. 

 She only puts the tips of her lijDS to the Avater and 

 takes several minutes sijiping the amount of a. 

 bucket full, while Hagar thrusts her Avliole muzzle 

 in and drinks voraciously. 



The tents proved to belong to the Motiyaja, one 

 of the Sebaa tribes, and, when the mares were satis- 

 fied, Ave Avent on to pay a visit to their Sheykli. 

 They were only just arrived, and the Sheykh's tent 

 was not yet pitched, but he received us in that of 

 his uncle Ali. Ferhan-ibn-Hedel^ is a young man 

 of tAVO or three and tAventy, and has the most 



