SUFFEEINGS IN THE DESERT. 
63 
crossed the desert in^ with a slight roof which he covered with 
leaves_, it would have been feasible ; two of these cages (as it 
were) belonging to him were at the Consulate on our return from 
the White Kiver. For hours I thus travelled,, moaning piteously, 
Petherick says ; towards morning I remember entreating that they 
would let me ride my dromedary, which I did. Then for days 
memory became a blank, and I was always under the impression 
that we were approaching a high black wall through which there 
was no outlet. 
I took an unconquerable hatred to Shaygi Mahommed : to him 
I unjustly attributed my troubles. My hearing was so painfully 
intense, that at a great distance I could distinguish voices and 
sounds which others heard not, and sometimes long afterwards we 
would overtake a slowly-moving caravan of slaves. Once where we 
bivouacked I traced the imprint of many childrens^ tiny feet : this 
filled my heart with grief ; the tears I shed for the sufierings of 
those little ones relieved mine own, and I became more rational. 
‘^^We hardly ever rested, as the water quickly diminished: one 
skin burst and the contents were instantly lost. The night before 
we reached the wells all were pushing on for them, and no halt had 
been made for hours. I cried out, ^ Let me remain behind ! I am 
dying.^ Petherick tells me some of the men caught me as I was 
falling off the dromedary, and that for hours I remained on the 
sand, the moonlight increasing the pallor of my countenance ; with 
difficulty he overcame the belief, which he had shared with those 
around, that peace had come at last. He with two or three remained 
with me, whilst all the others went on to the wells, some soon to 
return with water, and with milk from kind Bedouins who were 
there with their cattle. Thus refreshed, I was enabled to continue 
the journey, and to find at the wells our tents up, a couch ready. 
