DRYING MEAT. 93 



fell with tremendous force to the ground, uttering 

 the most horrible cries. A piece of iron about half- 

 an-inch thick, and some two feet long, being heated 

 red-hot was then applied to the shoulder, nearly the 

 whole length, and three successive marks were 

 thus inflicted. The iron being heated afresh each 

 time, remained until it was quite cold upon the 

 skin, which curled up in a most sickening manner 

 as the rude instrument was taken off. Three similar 

 marks were also made upon the rump, after which 

 the animal was liberated, and allowed to get up. I 

 was glad there were only these two to be operated 

 upon, for I never heard such bellowing shrieks that 

 disturbed the camp during the operation, such 

 only as camels can produce when suffering bodily 

 pain. 



A goat being killed to-day for my use, and all 

 the meat not being required, it was cut into long 

 strips, about an inch in thickness, and hung up in 

 the sun to dry, being festooned about the sides of 

 my hut, from the projecting ends of the saddle- 

 staves, which assisted in forming the roof. Zaido set 

 me to watch, that no hungry kite out of the number 

 which were circling above us should pounce upon, 

 and carry the meat away. I, however, amused 

 myself more with their impudent stoops, and Zaido, 

 on his return from watering his camels, found the 

 goat's flesh rapidly disappearing, more to the satis- 

 faction of the birds than his own. What remained, 

 however, being sufficiently dry, he hastily put into 



