They were very grateful, and fell down to the earth, kissing
my boots. I gave them a present to console them for their wounds,
and they seemed to be highly delighted.
Although the matter terminated in a manner so satisfactory to the
principal sufferers, there were symptoms of some angry excitement
in the place: it was said that public opinion was much shocked at
the fact that Mahometans had been beaten on account of a loss
sustained by a Christian. My journey was to recommence the next
day, and it was hinted that if I preservered in my intention of
proceeding, the people would have an easy and profitable
opportunity of wreaking their vengeance on me. If ever they formed
any scheme of the kind, they at all events refrained from any
attempt to carry it into effect.
One of the evenings during my stay at Suez was enlivened by a
triple wedding. There was a long and slow procession. Some
carried torches, and others were thumping drums and firing pistols.
The bridegrooms came last, all walking abreast. My only reason for
mentioning the ceremony (which was otherwise uninteresting) is,
that I scarcely ever in all my life saw any phenomena so ridiculous
as the meekness and gravity of those three young men whilst being
"led to the altar."
CHAPTER XXIII - SUEZ TO GAZA
The route over the Desert from Suez to Gaza is not frequented by
merchants, and is seldom passed by a traveller. This part of the
country is less uniformly barren than the tracts of shifting sand
that lie on the El Arish route. The shrubs on which the camel
feeds are more frequent, and in many spots the sand is mingled with
so much of productive soil, as to admit the growth of corn. The
Bedouins are driven out of this district during the summer by the
total want of water, but before the time for their forced departure
arrives they succeed in raising little crops of barley from these
comparatively fertile patches of ground. They bury the fruit of
their labours, leaving marks by which, upon their return, they may
be able to recognise the spot. The warm, dry sand stands them for
a safe granary. The country at the time I passed it (in the month
of April) was pretty thickly sprinkled with Bedouins expecting
their harvest. Several times my tent was pitched alongside of
their encampments. I have told you already what the impressions
were which these people produced upon my mind.
I saw several creatures of the antelope kind in this part of the
Desert, and one day my Arabs surprised in her sleep a young gazelle
(for so I called her), and took the darling prisoner. I carried
her before me on my camel for the rest of the day, and kept her in
my tent all night.
