32 
On Thursday the 18th the signal for departure was 
given; and immediately appeared long files of camels, 
coming from all sides of the horizon, leaving their 
respective encampments, to unite themselves with the 
main body. The caravan being assembled, began to 
traverse the desert, directing its course toward the east. 
My part of the*cavalcade was composed of fourteen 
camels and two horses only; for I had left almost all 
my effects, and a number of my servants, in Egypt. 
The whole caravan consisted of five thousand camels, 
and between two and three hundred horses. There 
were persons of every Mussulman nation, who were 
going to perform their pilgrimage to Mecca. 
The camels walked in files, with an equal and regu- 
lar step, like clock-work. We encamped during a part 
of the night in the middle of the desert. 
Friday r , December 19th. 
We continued to hold our course towards the east. 
As the caravan marched very slowly, I passed to 
the head of it, accompanied by two servants, who 
placed a carpet and a cushion for me by the side of 
its path, and seated myself during three quarters of an 
hour, whilst it defiled before me. Then mounting my 
horse, and arriving at the head of it as before, I re- 
peated this manoeuvre three or four times, by which 
means my journey was not fatiguing. 
The ground is composed of hills of moving sand, 
without the least appearance of plants or animals. Not 
an insect or a bird to be seen in the air. We saw at a 
distance upon the right, the branch of the Djebel 
Mokkattam, or the round topped mountain of Cairo, 
which extends to the neighbourhood of Suez. 
