Our Bishareen Arabs Are First-Rate
Walkers, As They Have Performed The Entire Journey On Foot.
Their
water and provisions were all exhausted yesterday, but
fortunately I had guarded the key of my two water-casks; thus I
had a supply when every water-skin was empty, and on the last day
I divided my sacred stock amongst the men, and the still more
thirsty camels.
In the hot months, a camel cannot march longer
than three days without drinking, unless at the cost of great
suffering.
"Having arrived here (Abou Hammed) at 4.25 this morning, 23d May,
I had the luxury of a bath. The very sight of the Nile was
delightful, after the parched desolation of the last seven days.
The small village is utterly destitute of everything, and the
sterile desert extends to the very margin of the Nile. The
journey having occupied ninety-two hours of actual marching
across the desert, gives 230 miles as the distance from Korosko,
at the loaded-camel rate of two and a half miles per hour. The
average duration of daily march has been upwards of thirteen
hours, including a day's halt at Moorahd. My camels have arrived
in tolerable condition, as their loads did not exceed 400 lbs.
each; the usual load is 500 lbs.
"May 24.--Rested both men and beasts. A caravan of about thirty
camels arrived, having lost three during the route.
"May 25.--Started at 5 A.M. The route is along the margin of the
Nile, to which the desert extends.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 26 of 556
Words from 6744 to 7001
of 151461
