62 BASIIAN. 



I did not liiirt myself seriously, but neuralgia, a stiff 

 back, and barked knuckles served to moderate any feelings 

 of triumph at tbe successful conclusion of our novel journey 

 from Jerusalem, and the opening of w^hat may prove a new 

 route for Eastern travellers, and I needed Fran9ois' prompt 

 consolation, ' Ah, monsieur, vous faites bien de suivre 

 I'exemple de St. Paul,' to reconcile me to the complication 

 of bodily ills. A review of Turkish troops was going on 

 outside the city; the cavalry were remarkably well- 

 mounted. 



After passing the gates we rode along the shabby bou- 

 levard which traverses the suburbs, and forms an entrance 

 to Damascus. Leaving the bazaars on our right, we at 

 last reached Demetri's Hotel, a pleasant house built, in the 

 usual Damascene style, round a courtyard full of lemon- 

 trees. 



We remained a week in these comfortable quarters. 

 Here our connection with Khasim ended as satisfactorily 

 as it had begun, for he was more than contented with the 

 * backsheesh ' we gave him. Our Trans- Jordanic trip added 

 only 61. a-head to the usual dragomanic expenses, which, 

 considering where we had been, and what we had seen, 

 was a very small sum. 



