I Observed, Indeed, That They Did
Not Offer Me The Bread And Salt Which I Had Understood To Be The
Pledges of peace amongst wandering tribes, but I fancied that they
refrained from this act of hospitality, not in consequence
Of any
hostile determination, but in order that the notion of robbing me
might remain for the present an "open question." I afterwards
found that the poor fellows had no bread to offer. They were
literally "out at grass." It is true that they had a scanty supply
of milk from goats, but they were living almost entirely upon
certain grass stems, which were just in season at that time of the
year. These, if not highly nourishing, are pleasant enough to the
taste, and their acid juices come gratefully to thirsty lips.
CHAPTER XV - PASSAGE OF THE JORDAN
And now Dthemetri began to enter into a negotiation with my hosts
for a passage over the river. I never interfered with my worthy
dragoman upon these occasions, because from my entire ignorance of
the Arabic I should have been quite unable to exercise any real
control over his words, and it would have been silly to break the
stream of his eloquence to no purpose. I have reason to fear,
however, that he lied transcendently, and especially in
representing me as the bosom friend of Ibrahim Pasha. The mention
of that name produced immense agitation and excitement, and the
Sheik explained to Dthemetri the grounds of the infinite respect
which he and his tribe entertained for the Pasha.
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