JOURNEY TO ROSETTA. 369 
by cutting clown these trees, each of which ^^^P- 
proves as a httle patrimony to the native who * .. » * 
is fortunate enough to be its owner. We had 
ventured into these wilds without guides ; and 
were therefore glad to perceive, as we advanced, 
the traces of dromedaries' feet upon the sand, 
crossing- the line we pursued. Following the 
track marked out by these animals, we presently 
arrived at the wretched solitary village of Utho, 
near to the muddy shore of the lake of that 
name, the entrance to which is called Maadie. 
Here we procured asses for all our party, and, Joumeyto 
setting out for Rosetta, began to recross the 
qlesert, appearing like an ocean of sand, but 
flatter and firmer, as to its surface, than before. 
The Jrabs, uttering their harsh guttural language, 
ran chattering by the side of our asses ; until 
some of them calling out " Raschid!'' we per- 
ceived its domes and turrets, apparently upon 
the opposite side of an immense lake or sea, 
that covered all the intervening space between 
us and the city. Not havmg, at the time, any 
doubt as to the certainty of its being water, and 
seeing the tall minarets and buildings of RoseUa, 
with all its groves of dates and sycamores, as 
perfectly reflected by it as by a mirror, insomuch 
tliat even the minutest detail of the architecture 
and of the trees might have been thence deline- 
ated, we applied to the Arabs to be informed in 
