sandy district. We then entered
on a region of firm soil, sometimes presenting a hilly surface, and
occasionally plains of hard clay sprinkled over with bushes, but without
any other vegetation, and almost destitute of water. We were fully a
month traversing this kind of country. We had left it a couple of days,
when we saw before us a stream of running water. Oh, how eagerly we
rushed forward, expecting to enjoy a draught; but when we knelt down and
plunged in our faces, how bitter was our disappointment on finding that
it was far too brackish to drink. However, Halliday, Ben, and I ran in
and had the luxury of a bath; but the Arabs, being indifferent at all
times about washing, would not give themselves the trouble of taking off
their clothes for the purpose.

This was the first of several streams we met with of the same character.
When encamping near them, however, the brackish water served to wash
the cattle in the way I have before described. Again fresh water failed
us, and in a short time the stock carried by the camels was exhausted,
and not a drop remained in our skin-bottles. Nearly a whole day we had
marched, under the fiery rays of the sun, our mouths so parched that
Halliday and I thought we should sink to the ground; but knowing that we
should meet with little or no sympathy from our task-masters, we did our
utmost to keep up with Hamed and his brother. The ground was covered
with bushes, and here and there a few stunted palm-trees reared their
heads somewhat higher above the surface. At last I was obliged to cry
out to Hamed that I could go no further.

"Courage, Nazarene! You will see water before long," he answered.

Scarcely had he spoken when we caught sight of a party of Arabs
approaching from the opposite direction. Hamed and his followers urged
on their camels; and it soon became doubtful who would first arrive at
the water. If we did, by the law of the Desert it would be for our use
and that of our beasts till all were satisfied; but the law of the
Desert is often superseded by the law of the strongest. The other party
still came hurrying on; when all at once we saw Sheikh Hamed, who had
urged on his camel ahead of us, suddenly rein it in, and wave his spear.
We therefore exerted ourselves, and were soon up to him. The strangers
halted at a little distance off, under some palm-trees. There were five
of them, besides three men on foot. We stood thus for some minutes
eyeing each ot