366 EXTRACTS FROM 
small game, and when all our spoils had been laid out in due 
order we had lunch, a meal during which we were more 
occupied in driving away the flies than in eating, for one can 
form no idea of the myriads of these insects that swarmed 
round our food. The hottest hours of the day we spent in 
camp, trying to rest; but unhappily the terrible heat made 
the time one continuous torture, and we could hardly so far 
collect our thoughts as to be able to jot down the necessary 
notes and to write some letters home, the noontide heat that 
we daily enjoyed in the Jordan valley being of the agreeable 
temperature of 105° Fahr. 
About five o’clock I again went out, but this time only 
accompanied by Salim and some of his Bedouins. After 
beginning by shooting Turtle-Doves among the trees I rambled 
through some patches of wild oats, where I killed a good 
supply of Quails for the larder, a very desirable addition to it, 
as our provisions already smelt rather badly, especially the 
much-belauded preserved meats, which were spreading their 
evil odours through the camp. 
While beating about the bushes and groves I had an op- 
portunity of observing the glorious vegetation of this part of 
the country, and was most struck by the Zizyphus lotus and 
Z. spina-Christi, from the fruits of which the jujubes so well 
known to all Europeans who suffer from coughs are said to 
be made, and also by the Zakkum or balsam-tree and the 
Sodom apple (Solanum sanctum). The celebrated rose of 
Jericho (Anastatica hierochuntica) is only found close to the 
shores of the Dead Sea. At sunset I returned to the camp, 
where we had dinner, and soon retired to rest. 
Next morning the camp was struck before sunrise, the 
tents packed, and the caravan set off with the usual noise and 
shouting. We, too, followed soon after breakfast, led by a 
Bedouin, who, mounted on his handsome chestnut horse, with 
his long lance and flying robe, might have served as the 
