io SPORT AND TRAVEL 



which had been required of me, immediately upon my 

 arrival the previous evening by the chief of police, by 

 whom they were submitted to the governor of the 

 town. I had received a most civil message the same 

 evening from this functionary, to the effect that my 

 papers should be returned to me early the following 

 morning, and that if I desired it, he would send an es- 

 cort of four soldiers with me as far as El Maly. This 

 offer I declined, as Manoli said the country was quite 

 safe, and therefore an escort would only have been a 

 source of more or less trouble and embarrassment. At 

 last, after having been kept waiting for some time, with 

 the ponies ready loaded, I received my papers, and we 

 at once made a move. We travelled till past midday 

 over a level burnt-up plain surrounded by hills. The 

 journey was most monotonous and uninteresting, and 

 the sun very hot. At 1.30, after an hour's rest, we 

 went on again, and soon got amongst hills, when, a 

 light breeze springing up, it became somewhat cooler. 

 In the course of the afternoon we passed through a 

 very fertile piece of country all under irrigation, from 

 strong streams running out of the surrounding moun- 

 tains. Just at dusk we reached a small maize field, 

 where an old Turk and his son were spending the 

 night before a small fire; and as he was able to sell us 

 some fodder for the horses, we camped alongside of his 

 fire. Here I pitched my little Whymper tent for the 

 first time, and passed a most comfortable night, as it 

 soon became quite cool, and there were no insects to 



