APPREHENSIONS OF A SURPRISE. 
483 
he built stables at those distances, and supplied them with per¬ 
sons to keep them in charge.” At present, this venerable build¬ 
ing bears the name of Madre-i-Sulieman. 
About a mile further, we reached the foot of the dangerous 
pass so much dreaded by the peasantry. On entering it, our 
guide warned us to have all eyes on the look-out, and to be 
otherwise on our guard, at the same time seasoning his advice 
as we advanced with a thousand murderous histories of horrible 
deeds committed by bands, from the various tribes who unre¬ 
mittingly infest those heights. At first, the ascent was rugged 
and steep, but it gradually became more gentle, opening on to 
ranges of wider acclivities, rising over the other till they ter¬ 
minated in a sort of narrow vale at the summit. The sides 
were covered with large projecting rocks, many were scattered 
loosely on the ground; but from every part, thick bushes grew 
up, and low stunted trees; all excellent ambushes for the ap¬ 
prehended banditti. I cannot say that I did not look for the 
sparkle of some lurking eye beneath them ; or, perhaps, at the 
turning of the cliffs, to receive some intimation of a bolder 
enemy; but nothing of the sort was heard or seen; no object 
appeared to molest us, but the almost insupportable sun ; and 
under it we continued to march, three hours and a half, across 
the mountains, without a breath of air moving, to cool our 
scorched skins, or a drop of water to slake a thirst that was 
become intolerable. The poor dogs, overcome with drowth, 
actually lay down again and again, and howled in such apparent 
agony, that I began to fear they would go mad. About five miles 
from our anticipated menzil, we commenced a descent at a point 
where the road divides ; one division, branching to the right, leads 
to the western part of the valley of Mourg-aub ; the other, turning 
3 q 2 
