BIVOUAC. 61 



tion fancied we were Turkish cavasses seeking 

 recruits, and denied that either husband or sons 

 were with her, who could guide us to a resting 

 place. The bribe we offered, however, tempted 

 her son from his hiding-place among the bushes, 

 and much against the will of his mother, he pro- 

 ceeded to conduct us to Isna, the nearest hamlet. 

 The path was a narrow and rugged one up the 

 precipitous side of the mountain, no easy or safe 

 treading in the dark. We had not advanced far 

 before one of our jaded horses slipped and rolled 

 over, scattering the baggage in all directions. 

 Arrested by the branches of a large arbutus, the 

 poor brute's life was saved on the brink of a pre- 

 cipice. This accident and the curses of our suri- 

 gees so frightened our guide, that he disappeared. 

 In such a locality there was no alternative but to 

 retrace our steps to the first spot wide enough 

 for a bivouac. Lighting a fire and picketing 

 our horses around it, we made ourselves comfort- 

 able under the lee of a carob-bush. Our servant 

 sought the Urook tent and calmed the old wo- 

 man's fears Once in good humour, she was all 

 kindness, sending her husband to us with a 

 bundle of firewood, and her children with milk, 

 yaoot, and eggs ; whilst she herself baked a batch 



