THE JORDAN FERRy. 15 



and inexperienced man, who seemed somewhat terrified at 

 the prospect of carrying his elaborate hatterie de cuisine 

 among the Arabs. 



The transit was, as usual, a long business, and was made 

 really troublesome by the swollen state of the river, which 

 had lately overflowed its banks and cut off the ferry-boat 

 from the shore by creating between them several yards of 

 mire and water, across which we and all our luggage were 

 carried on men's backs. rran9ois was a heavy load ; his 

 porter was not up to the work, and the unlucky burden was 

 deposited in the thickest of the mire. He however, as 

 usual, was not at a loss for consolation, and prided 

 himself on being the only one of the party who had 

 fulfilled the duties of a pilgrim by immersion in the 

 Jordan. 



