ts hind feet. It requires great skill to
hold yourself on during this operation; one time I was thrown
fair over its head, but quite unhurt. When you find yourself
exalted on the hunch of a camel, it is somwhat of the feeling of
an aeronaut, as if you were bidding farewell to sublunary things;
but when he begins to move, with solemn pace and slow, you are
reminded of your terrestrial origin, and that a wrong balance or
turn to the side will soon bring you down from your giddy height.
You have no stirrup, and generally only your bed for your saddle;
you may either sit as on horseback, or as on a sidesaddle,--the
latter is the pleasanter, though not the safer of the two. The
camel goes about three miles an hour, and the step is so long
that the motion is quite peculiar. You bend your head toward your
knees every step. With a vertical sun above and a burning sand
below, you may believe it is a very fatiguing mode of journeying.
However, we thought of Rebecca and Abraham's servant (Gen. 24.),
and listened with delight to the wild Bedouin's plaintive song.
That night (24) we slept at Menagie, a Bedouin mud village:
palm-trees and three wells, and an ocean of sand, formed the only
objects of interest. 25.--Up by sunrise, and proceeded as before.
The only event this day was Dr. Black's fall from his camel,
which greatly alarmed us. He had fallen asleep, which you are
very apt to do. We encamped and used every restorative, so that
we were able to proceed the same evening to Gonatre, a miserable
Arab post, having a governor. Not a tree. 26.--The Sabbath dawned
sweetly; thermometer 92 deg. in tent; could only lie on the mat and
read psalms. Evening.--Gathered governor and Bedouins to hear
some words of eternal life, Ibrahim interpreting. 27.--Two very
long stages brought us to Katieh; thankful to God for his
goodness, while we pitched by the date-trees. 28.--Spent the day
at Katieh; interesting interviews with governor, a kind Arab;
thermometer 96 deg. in tent. Same evening, proceeded through a
greener desert, among flocks of goats and sheep, and encamped by
a well, Bir-el-Abd. 29.--Another hot day in the desert; came in
sight of the sea, which gave us a refreshing breeze; bathed in
the salt lake, as hot as a warm bath. Evening.--Encampment at
Abugilbany. 30.--This was our last day in the Egyptian
wilderness. We entered