OBSERVATION OF THE STARS. 
95 
our party to share their mess of baked rice and butter. 
Though they knew that they had partaken of my provisions, 
yet they did not think proper to invite me, a proof, that not- 
withstanding all my efforts, there existed a feeling of distrust 
towards me. At sun-set a north breeze arose, which, though 
not very cool, was nevertheless very reviving, and enabled 
me to enjoy a little sleep. 
About eleven at night we set out, still proceeding 
northward, and directing our course by the pole-star. The 
camels are so well acquainted with the desert that, as soon as 
they are loaded, they take, as if by instinct, the northern 
course. It would seem that they are guided by the recollec- 
tion of the springs of water which are found in that direction. 
I really believe that a traveller, though alone, might safely 
trust himself to the guidance of his camel. 
The night was hot and calm, and the clear sky was 
studded with stars. We had before us the great and the 
little wain which appeared very near the horizon. As I 
could not sleep, I amused myself by observing the courses of 
the stars ; I saw in the east the remarkable groupe called 
the constellation of Orion ; I watched it during nearly half 
its course, almost to our zenith. On the approacli of day, 
the stars disappeared and seemed to sink into an ocean 
of sand. 
The camels never accelerate their pace, which is natu- 
rally somewhat tardy. When they are in haste, they thrust 
forward their necks, the motion of which corresponds with 
that of their legs. They are led by men on foot, whose 
labour is so fatiguing, that it is necessary to relieve them 
every two hours. 
The ground over which we travelled during the night 
appeared to me to be even more barren than that which we 
had passed on the preceding days. For whole hours in suc- 
cession we did not see a single blade of grass. 
At eleven in the morning the heat became excessive. 
