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had shut and sealed the doors of the temple; and tliat 
Saaoud had taken possession of the immense treasures 
which had been accumulating for so many ages. The 
Tefterdar assured me that the value of the pearls and 
precious stones was above all estimation. 
The caravan had a safe passport from Saaoud, to be 
respected during its journey; however, according to the 
information I received, I found that it had been obliged 
to quit the road after leaving the holy city, and that a 
heavy contribution had been laid upon it; so much so, 
that the aga or chief of the negroes, had been obliged 
to pay for his share the value of three thousand francs, 
and the others in proportion. I learned also that the 
caravan of the Turks at Mecca had been robbed of 
every thing immediately after its passage to Medina, 
and that they even took the provisions; so that it was 
doubtful whether these unhappy creatures escaped hun- 
ger and thirst in the midst of these deserts. 
The same day, the 4th of April, at three in the after- 
noon, we took a W. S. W. direction. In about an hour 
afterwards I discovered the sea at a great distance, and 
after having marched the whole night, we arrived in 
sight of Jenboa at break of day. I proceeded to the 
head of my caravan, and entered the town at sun-rise, 
on Sunday the 5th of April. I returned immediately on 
board the vessel, where I found my people very uneasy 
on account of the unpleasant news which had spread 
concerning me. Such was the end of this journey, 
which was unfortunate without doubt: notwithstanding 
this, my friends in misfortune, and myself, congratu- 
lated each other at being liberated so cheaply. 
There are two routes from Jenboa to Medina. The 
one passes by Jenboa en Nahal, or of the Palm Trees; 
the other directly traverses the Desert. The latter is 
