‘A JOURNEY IN THE EAST, 251 
some Pelicans swimming proudly about, and shaped our 
course towards them, but we could barely keep pace with the 
rapid paddling of the birds. At last we fired some long shots 
with ball from these rickety boats, and after prolonged efforts 
the clumsy creatures rose heavily and flew off to an undis- 
turbed part of the lake. The only other birds we saw were 
some Wild Ducks, Divers, Gulls, and a strikingly large 
number of Ospreys. 
Evening was coming on, the sun was sinking, vanishing 
into the desert with the most splendid effects of light, and 
an impressive stillness reigned over the broad landscape as 
we now approached the island of Beziré-Karun, whose 
rocky cone was picturesquely relieved against the dark blue 
sky, and landed on its flat eastern shore, where the tents of 
our imposing camp were standing within a hundred yards of 
the water. Jfires, too, were in full blaze, and Arabs were 
sitting among the bushes on the strand. There we were 
greeted by Prince Taxis, who had arrived in the morning 
with the heavy caravan ; and immediately after we had landed 
a capital dinner, dressed by an Arab cook, was served in a 
specially arranged mess tent. 
Our tents were made of pretty materials and were 
thoroughly comfortable. There were beds and even tables 
in these airy abodes, each of which was tenanted by two 
gentlemen. It is only Orientals who understand the art of 
cooking properly at an open fire, and how to pitch a tent 
quickly and comfortably; so all who can manage to do so had 
better travel among these excellent people. 
After dinner we smoked, chatted, and arranged our plans 
for the morrow, and by ten o’clock all was quiet in the camp ; 
the Arabs, too, were lying on the sand in the open air, wrapped 
in their ghostly white burnouses. 
The night did not pass quite so smoothly as the lovely 
evening had led us to expect, for a violent storm rose and 
