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CHAPTER X. 
February 13. — Early in the morning the Schech sent the 
camels for our baggage, and soon afterwards arrived himself with 
those that were intended for our accommodation. I travelled in ^ 
Takterouane, which is more like a box than a palanquin, and, being 
only five feet long, is very uncomfortable. It is slung between two 
camels, by large shafts which pass underneath it ; between these 
the camels march. We had ten Mohalfas, in which the other 
gentlemen went; these are a kind of little couch, two of which are 
slung sideways on the opposite sides of a camel, with an awning 
spread between to keep off the sun : we had also fourteen camels 
for our baggage and water. To avoid the necessity of dressing food 
in the Desert, we provided plenty of cold meat, bread, fruit, butter, 
and cheese. We were obliged also to provide coffee, bread, and 
rice for the soldiers of Chedid, and the men who attended on the 
camels. It was half after ten when we took leave of our estimable 
friend Captain Court, and the other companions of our voyage, 
and mounted our camels. I found the motion by no means pleasant, 
but had reason to suspect, from the violent movements of the gen- 
tlemen in the Mohaffas, that they were still more incommoded. Nor 
was I mistaken, for, on meeting at the wells where the rest of the 
caravan had halted, they were loud in their complaints, and agreed 
in opinion, that a camel afforded the most uneasy conveyance they 
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