■248 WIDE AND INHOSPITABLE DESERTS. jf 
on tlin arrival of the caravan, which tliey plunde*',^ 
mercy leaving the unfoitunate merchants entirely ‘7 
Tlio food, dress, and accommodations of f 
who compose the caravans, are simple and natural' -J 
prohibited by tlieir religion the use of wine '* 
eating liquors, and exhorted by its principle® *iV 
peiance in all things, they are commonly satish'^ j 
tew nourishing dates, and a draught of water, ‘m- 
tor weeks successively without any other food, f / 
times, ‘when they undertake a journey of a 
across the desert, a little barley meal, mixed 
constitutes their only nourishment. In folloM'>"»j.*' 
abstemious mode of life, they never complain, 
lltemselves with the hope of reaching their native ^ ’ 
singing occasionally during tlie journey, wheni^'i; 
ajiproach a habitation, or when the camels ar<^ ' jf 
Their songs are usually sung in trio; and tho®‘’^)i‘’ 
camcl-drivers who have musical voices, join in ^^’^7 
Ihesc songs have a surprising eftect in renovating j'ii# 
while the symphony and time maintained by '^1'^ 
siupass what any one would conceive who ha® ^ 
them. The day’s journey is terminated early in^ jj/ 
noon, when the tents are pitched, prayers 
supper prepared by sun-set. The guests now 
selves in a circle, and, the sober meal being 
converse till they are overcome by sleep. 
next morning, they again proceed on their journo 
PIII3RIATAGE ACROS.S THE DESER'T®' 
The following very lively description of a P-jp; 
across the desert is given by Ali Bey, in his tratj-’l’iif; 
rocco, Iripoh.j &c. It is an animated picture ^7^' 
trays in the strongest colours the perils and sun'-’ 
couuiercd in diese enterprises. F, 
“ Wo continued marching on in great haste, - 
being overtaken by the four hundred Arabs 7,;^ 
wished to avoid. Fortins reason we never kep^. . K 
mon road, but passed through tlie middle of 
marching tlirough stony places, over easy hill®- 
try is entirely without. water : not a tree is to be 
■' - - > '• ■ ■ 
a rock which can offer a shelter or a shade. - 
.Tlniosphcro, an intense sua< darting its beai»® 
