175 
Djideida is a very dull place, at the bottom of a val- 
ley. The houses are very low, and constructed of stone 
without cement. There is a large open space, in which 
there are some shops, where the market is held. The 
water is excellent, and is procured from a spring; there 
are also some gardens, and plantations of palm trees, 
but the situation is dismal. 
The chief of the people, surnamed Scheik el Beled 3 
and the Kadi, are natives of the country, which is un- 
der the dominion of Sultan Saaoud, to whom the in- 
habitants pay the tenth of their fruits. 
It is in the desert of Medina that the tree grows, from 
which the balm of Mecca, improperly so called, is ex- 
tracted. As I could not stop, I delayed my inquiries 
concerning this tree, until my return. 
Being no longer able to endure the pace of the dro- 
medaries, I allowed the caravan to proceed, promising 
to rejoin it soon, and remained to repose, having no 
other guard with me than my servants. 
When I awoke I found myself surrounded by a num- 
ber of persons leaning over, and looking at me. I open- 
ed my little medicine chest, and put some lint and 
catholic balsam upon all the scratches and wounds that 
I had upon my hands, legs, &c. I afterwards ate a de- 
licious water melon, which refreshed me wonderfully 3 
but I was unable to stir. 
My servants, however, prepared four camels, and a 
schevria similar to the one 1 had made use of upon my 
journey to M£©ca, and I set out the same day, the 
second of April, escorted only by my three servants, 
and the camel driver, about nine o'clock, being about 
sixteen leagues east from Medina, according to the in- 
formation I received. 
