COMMUNICATIONS. 
63 
A requeft from the Shereef Fouwad v/as now made to Mr, 
Lucas for his confent to encamp that evening in the neigh- 
bourhood of an old Arab, his particular friend, with whom he 
had bufniefs to tranfad, but whofe refidence was two hours 
march to the South of their road. They accordingly turned to; 
the South, and about five o'clock, after a tedious and difficult 
pafTage among rocky hills, they approached the tents of the Arab. 
The old gentleman, accompanied by his tv/o fons and a few at- 
tendants, came forward to meet them; and after expreffing great 
fatisfadion at the fight of his friend, the Shereef, he ordered a 
tent to be cleared for their reception, and in the mean tim.e con^ 
duded them to a mat and carpet, which his fervants had fpread 
for them under a hedge ; for, notwithftanding the feafon of the 
year, the heat was already troublefome. They had not been 
feated long when their hoft invited them to their tent, in which 
a number of mats and carpets were neatly laid. — A fiieep was 
killed, and fent to be drefi^ed for their fiippers ; bowls of butter- 
milk were brought for their prefent refrelliment, and barley in 
abundance was given to fuch of their cattle as were accuflomed 
to that kind of food; while the camels, as ufual, were fent to 
feed among the hills. 
At eight o'clock the fupper was brought to the tent, and was 
^ placed 
