1 1 2 Bedonin Tribes of the Euphrates, [ch. xx. 



Dakhmeh a picture of beauty, but smaller. ]Mr. S. 

 has been trying to persuade Beteyen to transfer liis 

 new purchase, Abeyeli Sherrdk, to us, but I fear it 

 will be without success. He at first said lie would, 

 but afterwards recalled his assent, on the plea that 

 just now, with the Rodla war on his hands, it would 

 not look well for him to part with a useful mare. It 

 is probably a matter of money, and we have too 

 little with us to be able to offer a really over-powering 

 price. Some Englishmen, who visited the Gomussa 

 near Aleppo a few years ago, seem to have impressed 

 them all with the idea that it is as easy to get 

 £500 as £50 from a European. 



We were sitting in our tent lookino; at the horses 

 which were brought us from time to time, when a 

 young man of a most agreeable countenance came 

 and sat down in front of it, after saluting Mr. S. 

 At first we did not know who he was, but presently 

 he explained that he was IMeshiir ibn ]\Iershid ; and 

 ]\Ir. S. recognised him as the son of one of his oldest 

 friends, Mitbakh, Suliraan ilm Mershid's elder 

 brother, and we made him come and sit by us. 

 This is the young man who was said to have 

 murdered Ibn Shaalan in his own tent, and who 

 had sent us the invitation we received at Aleppo 

 quite at the beginning of our travels. The circum- 

 stance interested us, and we asked him what his 

 feelino; was about the war, and whether he wished 

 it to go on. "" Ouf,^' he answered, ("certainly,") 

 " it must." " But you and your people have 



