213 
ful picture of this district, through which we were pas- 
sing. 
Every man that we meet in this desert is looked upon 
as an enemy. Having discovered about noon a man in 
arms, on horseback, who kept at a certain distance, my 
thirteen Beduins united the moment they perceived 
him, darted like an arrow to overtake him, uttering loud 
cries, which they interrupted by expressions of con- 
tempt and derision; as, " What are you seeking, my 
brother?" " Where are you going, my son?" As they 
made these exclamations they kept playing with their 
guns over their heads. The discovered Beduin profited 
of his advantage and fled into the mountains, where 
it was impossible to follow him. We met no one else. 
We had now neither eaten nor drank since the pre- 
ceding day; our horses and other beasts were as des- 
titute; though ever since nine in the evening we had 
been travelling rapidly. Shortly after noon we had not 
a drop of water remaining, and the men as well as the 
poor animals were worn out with fatigue. The mules 
stumbling every moment with their burden, required 
assistance to lift them up again, and to support their 
burden till they rose. This terrible exertion exhausted 
the little strength we had left. 
At two in the afternoon a man dropped down stiff as 
if he were dead from his great fatigue and thirst. I stopt 
with three or four of my people to assist him. The little 
wet which was left in one of the leather budgets was 
squeezed out of it, and some drops of water poured in- 
to the poor man's mouth, but without any effect. I 
began to feel that my own strength was beginning to 
forsake me; and becoming very weak, I determined to 
mount on horseback, leaving the poor fellow behiiicjt. 
