vH. XX.] Meshiir follozus to say Good-bye. 



12 



Palmyra, wliicli is not more tlian twelve or fifteen 

 miles off. Mohammed, of course, knows the place, 

 and calls the tower Kasr Hazim ; the wells, Sakr. 

 These are deep, and it was tantalising to be 

 unable to get at the water before the camels arrived, 

 for we had left them some way behind, in our 

 anxiety to get a drink. 



While "waiting under the ruined tower, and half 

 asleep, w-e suddenly heard the Arab war chant, and 

 looking up, saw a horseman cantering over the hill 

 behind us, lance in hand. For a moment we Avere 

 mystified into thinking he might be an enemy, but 

 he was alone, and, as he drew near, I thought I knew 

 his voice. Presently we recognised ]\Ieshur on his 

 grey mare, come to wish his brother a last good-bye. 

 We were very much pleased to see him, for it 

 showed a good feeling on his part to have left his 

 people to pay us a visit, as the tribes have halted 

 several miles short of the wells. We asked about 

 his mare, and he told us she was a Hadbeh, and 

 very fast, which we can well believe, for she is 

 extremely handsome, and has a fine way of moving. 



She is twelve years old, though she does not look 

 it, and, as he says, they grew up together and have 

 never been parted, and it was mounted on her back 

 that he killed Jedaan ibn Shaalan last year. He 

 entreated Wilfrid to take her as a j)resent, she was 

 all he had worth giving ; but this of course could 

 not be. 



Meanwhile the camels arrived, and, ^^•hiIe the 



