Adventures in the Libyan Desert and the Oasis of Jupiter Ammon (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1849 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II. Departure from Abusir--High Spirits of the Party--Picture of our OneEyed Sheikh--We reach a Tent on the Sea-shore--Value of Time in the Desert--The Character of the Sheikh begins to develope--Domestic Arrangements of a Bedawin Tent--Women and Children--Mess of Dates and Butter--The Well of NerK--Filling Water-skins--Yunus's young Wife begs us to bring him back in safety--Romantic Departure of the Kafila at Night--Pace of the Camel--And of the Donkey--Halt, and sleep in the open Air--Morning View of the Desert--Accession to our Party--Yimus gives a parting Benediction to his Son--Second Night March--Ruins of a Fortified Camp--A Saracenic Castle--Bivouac--Well of Shemaime'h--Bad Water. It was not until the morning of the 18th that all was ready for our departure. We had been compelled to send back to Alexandria for an additional supply of beans and water-skins; and, as will readily be supposed, our impatience was at its height. In vain we wandered about and tried to take interest in the ruins, in quail-shooting, in visiting the Nazir at his little whitewashed house, in looking at the small hamlet where the soldiers belonging to the station lived with their families. We rejoiced in none of these things, partly because we had seen them before, but chiefly because we were eager to leave all traces of civilization behind us, and plunge into those vast and silent regions where only wandering hordes of Bedawins are ever to be encountered. At length, as T have intimated, the wished-fbr day arrived, and we were on foot as usual before the sun, and down in the misty valley by the well to perform our ablutions--a luxury which we might not always be able to enjoy in the Desert. Four camels', with old Yunus, soon made their appearance; and, after a great dea...