Narrative of a Year's Journey Through Central and Eastern Arabia (1862-63) Volume 1 (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. 1865 Excerpt: ...No wonder, for most of these versifiers being themselves natives of the barren Hejiiz or the scorching Tehamah, perhaps inhabitants of Egypt and Syria, and knowing little of Arabia, except what they have seen on the dreary Meccan pilgrim road, they naturally look back to with longing and frequently record whatever glimpses chance may have allowed them of the cooler and more fertile highlands of the centre, denominated by them Nejed in a general way, with their transient experience of its fresh and invigorating climate, of its courteous men and sprightly maidens. But when, nor is this seldom, the sweet smell of Rend, Khozamah, Themam, and other aromatic thyme-like plants that here abound, mixes with the light morning breeze and enhances its balmy influence, then indeed can one excuse the raptures of an Arab Ovid or Theocritus, and appreciate--at least I often did--their yearnings after Nejed, and all the praises they lavish on its memory. Tten said I to my companion, while the camels were hastening To bear us down the pass between Meneefah and Demar "Knjoy while thou canst the sweets of the meadows of Nejed: With no sucli meadows and sweets shalt thou meet after this evening. Ah heaven's blessing on the scented gales of Nejed, And its greensward and groves glittering from the spring shower, And thy dear friends, when thy lot was east awhile in Nejed--Little hadst thou to complain of what the days brought thee; Months flew past, they passed and we perceived not, Nor when their moons were new, nor when they waned."--Regrets for an unwilling departure. Another, now far away Two hills on the frontier of aseem towards Medinah. from the land of his real or imaginary loves, thus expresses his longings: --Ah breeze of Nejed, when thou blowest fresh ...