38 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
prospect of wealth in a foreign country. While they 
remained in this distressing situation, the poor woman 
gave birth to a daughter, and they tarried in that 
place for many hours, vainly hoping that travellers 
might pass by, from whom they might obtain some 
relief. But, alas, they were doomed to disappoint- 
ment. Human feet seldom trod those dreary wastes, 
and the sun was now declining apace. With the 
most gloomy forebodings they looked forward to the 
approach of night, for the place was the haunt of 
thousands of wild beasts ; and even should Providence 
enable them to escape death from hunger, they feared 
that they must fall a prey to the savage monsters of 
the desert. Khaja Aias, in this sad extremity, 
having once more placed his wife upon the half- 
starved horse, found himself so much exhausted that 
he could with difficulty move his limbs. To carry 
the child became impossible, and the mother, through 
excessive weakness, could not even hold herself se- 
curely upon her horse. A fearful struggle ensued 
between humanity and necessity : the latter prevailed, 
and they at last agreed upon entrusting the child to 
the care of Providence, by leaving it upon the high- 
way. They placed it upon the ground under the 
shade of a tree, and covered it with dry leaves ; then 
taking a tearful farewell of their darling, the discon- 
solate parents again attempted to proceed. 
When they had advanced about a mile from the 
spot where they had abandoned the infant, the mother 
