52 
FURIOUS STORM. 
I took care to get behind a bush, and at the least noise I hid 
my notes and took up my beads, pretending to be saying my 
prayers. This feigned devotion procured me much com- 
mendation from those who surprised me ; but it was painful 
to me to perform such a part. 
For three days the wind had blown hard from the east ; 
the pastures were nearly bare, and messengers had been dis- 
patched to the north to see if they were more abundant in 
that direction. In the evening a tremendous storm came on, 
the thunder rolled awfully, and the rain fell in torrents ; all 
the tents were blown over, and the utmost confusion per- 
vaded the camp. The storm had taken every body by sur- 
prise ; there had been no time to take down the tents ; the 
very huts themselves were carried away, the briars which 
had been used for fences were likewise torn up, and many 
persons were hurt. The Moors, though accustomed to scenes 
of this sort, seemed very much frightened. Nothing was to 
be heard but men and women recommending themselves to 
God : the tumult was increased by the doleful lowing of the 
cattle, which had been torn by the briars which the wind 
carried off, and were now wandering about at random. 
This was the first storm that I had witnessed in the desert, 
and the general consternation which I remarked, made me sup- 
pose that there was some imminent danger ; for a moment I 
shared the terror of the Musulmans, but the wind subsided 
in about three quarters of an hour, and the rain ceased soon 
afterwards. The people then bestirred themselves to set up 
the tents again, and to collect the scattered cattle ; the fires 
which the wind had extinguished were re-lighted, and every 
one dried his clothes, for it is the Moorish custom to have 
only one suit. I had a dry pagne with which J covered my- 
self, and more than ten people asked me for it to change 
themselves ; but I had too urgent occasion for it myself, to 
lend it, which drew upon me their abuse. I observed that 
the king himself had been exposed to the rain like the rest 
