Arab and Druze at Home; A Record of Travel and Intercourse with the Peoples East of the Jordan (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1907. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX Travellers' troubles--A corner of the desert--The mirage--Dangerous wadies--Lunch in the desert--A "blind" guide--The clerk to the sheyukh--A mile stone--Kal'at Esdein--Thirst--The uplands of Gilead --Search for water--A Bedawy camp--Terrific thunderstorm. Long before dawn on Monday morning all was bustle and stir in the camp. We hoped to reach Jerash that evening, but the most conflicting accounts were given of the distance, varying from three days to one long day. The usual road runs west to JDer'at, where it turns southward by way of Remtah. A line direct, across a corner of the desert, is shorter by perhaps fifteen miles. This we proposed to take. In that wide empty land, with never a house, haunted by roving Beduw, a guide was absolutely necessary. With difficulty one was found who had traversed the way before; but he would go only on condition that a friend should also go, to accompany him home again. We were not yet to start, however. A vendor of antiquities entrusted certain old coins, seals, etc., to our cook, who himself did business in that line, in the hope that we might buy. A few purchases were made; but when it came to giving back the remainder, a seal, or stone from a signet ring, was missing. On this, of course, the owner put a fancy price. Imagine a company of pilgrims on their knees, turning up stones and groping in the dust as earnestly as rag-pickers on a heap The toil was fruitless. The cook was told that suspicion attached to himself; and that if the seal were not forthcoming, the owner should have his price, the same to be duly deducted from the cook's wages. With an injured air that plainly meant "What shall we hear next?" the worthy Abdu resumed his search, and soon sprang to his feet with the lost seal in his hand. Throwing...