HURRICANE. 
115 
crying out with all their mighty There is no God but God, 
and Mahomet is his prophet !" Through these shouts and 
prayers^ and the roaring of the wind, I could distinguish at 
intervals, the low plaintive moan of the camels, who were 
as much alarmed as their masters, and more to be pitied, as 
they had not tasted food for four days. Whilst this fright- 
ful tempest lasted, we remained stretched on the ground, 
motionless, dying of thirst, burned by the heat of the sand, 
and buffetted by the wind. We suffered nothing however 
from the sun, whose disk, almost concealed by the cloud of 
sand, appeared dim and shorn of its beams. We durst not 
use our water, for fear the wells should be dry, and I know 
not what would have become of us if, about three o'clock, 
the wind had not abated. As soon as it became calm, we 
prepared to set off, and the dokhnou was mixed and distri- 
buted. It is difficult to describe with what impatience we 
longed for this moment ; to enhance the pleasure which I 
expected from my portion, I thrust my head into the vessel, 
and sucked up the water in long draughts. When I had 
drunk, I had an unpleasant sensation all over me, which was 
quickly succeeded by fresh thirst. 
About half past four in the afternoon, we left the place 
where we had experienced this terrible hurricane, and pro- 
ceeded on our way towards the north. The camels walked 
slowly and with effort, for they were almost exhausted the 
poor beasts looked jaded and dejected. The sight of this 
numerous caravan, destitute of water, and condemned to die 
of thirst, scattered over the arid land, was truly dismal. 
The camels gently shaking their heads, or ruminating, took 
their course towards the north, without requiring any direc- 
tion. We advanced over a sandy soil covered with rocks, 
rising about five feet above its surface. Wrapped in my own 
reflections, I thought of the wisdom of divine Providence, 
which has anticipated all our wants. What a masterpiece of 
nature's workmanship, said I, is the camel ! If it were not 
I 2 
