278 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AXD SPORT. 



with almost spectral motion, across the sands, that 

 gleamed like a golden sea under the great sunlight, 

 like a silvery plain under the full moon. Even the 

 indefinite danger of the attempt gave it enchantment. 

 The vast circling pillars, "which the wild Eastern 

 imagination regards as evil demons circling over the 

 earth ; the black wall of the great sand-storm coming 

 up before the wind and hiding the sun; the red 

 sandstone peaks, where 



" Faint and sickly winds for ever howl around ;" 



the flaming wilderness of rock, where no signs of life 

 refresh the eye ; the sun-blacked Beluch haunching 

 his ill-conditioned but trusty mare in a cloud of dust, 

 as he half threatens with his braggart sword ; the 

 pains of the scorching ride; the annoyance of the 

 noisy arrangements ; the dangers of the night encamp- 

 ment ; might not such things be remembered with 

 pleasure long after they had ceased to trouble, while 

 many singular pictures would remain, from that of 

 the green mountain-valley, or the short Brahui goat- 

 herd drawing water from the deep-sunk well, or the 

 comely Beluch woman handing to her lord the frugal 

 draught his flocks afford, to the white domes of musjid 

 and minar, where 



" 'Mid far sands 

 The palmtree-cinctured city stands ?" 



But even the most reckless is apt to hesitate about 

 starting into a country from which, he is informed, 



