amongst the Arabs of the Great Africojn Desert. ^35 
of his footsteps, and retaken by the Arabs, who severely bastU 
nadoed him on the soles of the feet, which they struck with a 
hot iron rod, so that it was two or three months before he reco- 
vered from the effects of this punishment 
From this period until his final escape, he was kept with the 
tribe, wandering from place to place, to procure food for their 
cattle ; they often attacking the neighbouring tribes, and being 
frequently attacked by them, sometimes beaten and plundered, 
at other times victorious, and robbing their enemies. In the 
latter end of July, or beginning of August 1816, the tribe en- 
camped in a place called Lah Thinn, a little to the southward 
of the Wad called Ourerah, in the district of Till ; Scott was, 
as usual, tending the sheep and goats, acconipanied by his mas- 
ter’s daughter. It happened that they both fell asleep. In the 
mean time a wolf” came, killed three sheep, and dispersed 
the rest of the flock, so that when Scott and his companion 
awoke, the dead sheep were those only in sight. 
, Fear of the punishment which this negligence would certain- 
ly draw down on him, seconded his resolution to attempt an 
escape. He desired the girl to go and look for the sheep in one 
direction, while he searched for them in another. He instantly 
fled towards the sea-shore, along which he travelled for four 
days and nights in a northerly direction. 
During this time his only sustenance was a little fresh water. 
Early on the fifth day, he saw to the eastward a great smoke, 
and some high mountains : he made the best of his way towards 
the smoke, and when in a hollow, near some houses built of 
stone, whence the smoke proceeded, he was met by a Moor, who 
pointed his gun at Scott, and desired him to throw away his 
knife, and take off his clothes. “ On his refusal the man threat- 
ened to shoot him, when Scott said he might fire if he chose.” 
Hearing himself addressed in the Arab tongue, the man put 
that some gunpowder which he had about him was a sufficient protection, even 
against a lion, which is said to have the greatest antipathy to the smell of it, 
* Scott has been repeatedly asked whether, on this or any occasion he observ- 
ed any thing peculiar in the appearance of his wounds, especially whether those 
on his shins (which were not uncommon,) shewed the hone white, but he says that 
his wounds were all red, though many of those on his shins were severe : all 
healed easily. / 
