IVXtOM ^IBEIUAS TO NAPOLtySK. 301 
dress of ao Arab to his mare, as delivered in his own pre¬ 
sence : and this, more eloquent than whole pages of descrip¬ 
tive information, presents us with a striking picture of Arab 
manners.* 44 Ibrahim, 55 says he,f 44 went frequently to Ra 
ma, to inquire news of that mare which he dearly loved. I 
have many a time had the pleasure to see him weep with ten¬ 
derness the while he was Jdssing and caressing her. He 
would embrace her; would wipe her eyes with his handker¬ 
chief; would mb her with his shirt sleeves; would give her 
a thousand benedictions, during whole hours that he would 
remain talking to her. 6 My Eyes? would he say to her, 4 my 
Soul , my Heart , must I be so unfortunate as to have thee sold 
to so many masters , and not to keep thee myself? I am poor y 
my Antelope! Thou knowest it well, my darling ! I brought 
thee up in my dwellings as my child; I did never beat nor 
ehide thee; I caressed thee in the fondest manner . God pre¬ 
serve thee, my beloved! Thou art beautiful! Thou art sweet! 
Thou art lovely! God defend thee from envious eyes f * 55 J 
Upon our arrival in the camp, we found the general in a 
large green tent, open all around, and affording very little 
shelter from the heat, as the simoom , or wind of the desert, 
was at that time blowing, and far more insufferable than the 
sun. Its parching influence pervaded all places alike; and 
coming as from a furnace, it seemed to threaten us all with 
suffocation. The author was the first who sustained serious 
injury from the fiery blast, being attacked by giddiness, ac¬ 
companied with burning thirst. Head ache, and frequent fits 
of shivering, ensued; and these ended in violent fever. For 
success will tempt them to repeat their attack; the eastern districts of Syria will theta 
rapidly be deserted by their inhabitants ; and the desert, which is already daily gain¬ 
ing ground upon the cultivated fields, will soon swallow up the remaining parts of one 
©f the most fruitful countries of the east.” 
& This man’s name was Ibrahim; being poor, he had been under the necessity of 
allowing a merchant of Rama to become partner with him in the possession of this 
animal. The mare was called Touisa) (according to our mode of pronouncing* Louisa ;) 
her pedigree could be traced, from public records, both on the side of the sire and 
dam, for five hundred years prior to her birth; and her price mas three hundred pounds j 
an enormous sum in that country. 
t“ Ibrahim alloit souvent 5, Rama ; pour scavoir des nouvelles de cette cavalle 
qu’il aimoit cherement. J’ai eu plu3ieurs fois le plaisir de le voir pleurer de ten- 
dresse, en la baisant, et en la caressant. II l’emferassoit, il lui essuioities yeux avec 
son tnouchoir, il la frottoit avec les manches de sa chemise, il lui donnoit mi life 
benedictions durantdes heures entires qu’il raisonnoit avec elle : 4 Mes yeux,’ lui 
disoit-il, 1 mon ame, aion cceifr, faut-il que je sdis. assez malheureux pour t’avoir 
vendue a taut de maitres, et pour ne te pasgarder avec moi? Je suis pauvre, ma 
Gazelle ! tu le seals bien, ma mignonne ! Je t’ai elevee dans ma maison tout corair.® 
mafille; je ne t’ai jamais battue ni gronde ; je t’ai caressee tout de mon mieux. 
Dieu te conserve, malwen aimee ! Tu es belle, tu es douce, tu es amiabla ! Dieu te 
preserve du regard des envieux!’ ” Voyage dans la Palestine , p. 201. Par. 1717. 
i See the pa^h&e from Virgil, in a former note. 
2 F 
