He soon, however, returned with an altered
countenance; his wives, he said, had got hold of the box and put it
out of order. So short-lived is human happiness in this frail
world!
The Governor fancied that he should incur less risk if remained at
Gaza for two or three days more, and he wanted me to become his
guest. I persuaded him, however, that it would be better for him
to let me depart at once. He wanted to add to my baggage a roast
lamb and a quantity of other cumbrous viands, but I escaped with
half a horse-load of leaven bread, which was very good of its kind,
and proved a most useful present. The air with which the
Governor's slaves affected to be almost breaking down under the
weight of the gifts which they bore on their shoulders, reminded me
of the figures one sees in some of the old pictures.
CHAPTER XXIV - GAZA TO NABLUS
Passing now once again through Palestine and Syria I retained the
tent which I had used in the Desert, and found that it added very
much to my comfort in travelling.
