n. The Turks, while they were yet believers, repaired
to Mecca in great caravans; and in our travels in Central Asia, we
constantly met numerous pilgrims going to or fro, all of them profoundly
filled with and earnestly impelled by a sincere sentiment of religion.
It is to be remarked that pilgrimages have diminished in Europe, in
proportion as faith has become rationalist, and as people have taken to
discuss the truths of religion. Wherever faith remains earnest, simple,
unquestioning, in the breasts of men, these pilgrimages are in vigour.
The reason is, that the intensity of simple faith creates a peculiarly
profound and energetic feeling of the condition of man, as a wayfarer
upon the earth; and it is natural that this feeling should manifest
itself in pious wayfarings. Indeed, the Catholic Church, which is the
depository of all truth, has introduced processions into the liturgy, as
a memorial of pilgrimages, and to remind men that this earth is a desert,
wherein we commence, with our birth, the awful journey of eternity.

We had left far behind us the pilgrims of Mourguevan, and began to regret
that we had not encamped in their company upon the banks of the pleasant
stream, and amid the fat pastures which it fed. Sensations of fear grew
upon us, as we saw great clouds arise in the horizon, spread, and
gradually obscure the sky. We looked anxiously around, in all
directions, for a place in which we could commodiously halt for the
night, but we saw no indication whatever of water. While we were deep in
this perplexity, some large drops of rain told us that we had no time to
lose. "Let us make haste, and set up the tent," cried Samdadchiemba
vehemently. "You need not trouble yourselves any more in looking for
water; you will have water enough presently. Let us get under shelter
before the sky falls on our heads." "That is all very well," said we,
"but we must have some water for the animals and ourselves to drink. You
alone require a bucket of water for your tea every evening. Where shall
we find some water?" "My fathers, you will very speedily have more water
than you like. Let us encamp, that's the first thing to be done. As to
thirst, no one will need to die of that this evening: dig but a few holes
about the tent, and they'll soon overflow with rain-water. But we need
not even dig holes," added Samdadchiemba, extending his right hand; "do
you see that shepherd there and his flock? You may be sure wa