i8o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



the thief was only known to be living by his groans, and 

 they had thrown him at a fmall diftance, for any perfon to 

 own him that pleafed. It appeared, that he was a fervant 

 of Sidi Haffan, an Egyptian Have, or fervant to Shekh Ha- 

 mam, who conducted or commanded the caravan, if there 

 was any conducl or command in it» 



There were with me ten fervants, all completely armed, 

 twenty-five Turks, who feemed worthy to be depended up- 

 on, and four janiffaries, who had joined us from Cairo, fo 

 that there were of us forty men perfectly armed, befides 

 attendants on the cattle. As we had people with us who 

 knew the wells, and alfo a friend who was acquainted, with' 

 the Atouni, nothing, even in a defer t, could reafonably a- 

 larm us. 



With great difficulty we pulled down an old acacia-tree, 

 and procured fome old-dried camels dung, with which we 

 roafted our two antelopes : very ill-roafted they were ; and 

 execrable meat, though they had been ever fo well dreffed, 

 and had had the beft fauce of Chriftendom. However, we 

 were in the defert, and every thing was acceptable. We 

 had fome fpirits, which finifhed our repaft that night : it 

 was exceedingly cold, and we fat thick about the fire. 



Five men with firelocks, and a number of Arabs with 

 lances, having come towards us, and being challenged by. • 

 the centinel for not. giving the word, were then defired to 

 fiand, or they would be fired upon. They all cried out, 

 Salam Allcum ! and I intimated that any three of them: might 

 come forward, but defired them to keep away the Arabs; 

 Three of them accordingly came, and then two more. They. 



3 delivered? 



