carpets, on which the family
slept; the tents of the less wealthy people being furnished with mats
only. On a few short poles stuck in the ground were hung the goat-skin
bottles containing milk or water; as also arms, and a few garments,
which, together with some wooden bowls, jugs, small millstones for
grinding corn, cooking utensils, looms for weaving camel-hair cloth, and
sundry small articles, constituted the whole furniture of the
habitations of these wanderers of the Desert.

The people continued to press around us in a most annoying manner.
Boxall said he would complain to the sheikh's wife, in order that we
might be allowed to rest in peace. He accordingly made his way through
the crowd--who treated him with more respect than they did the rest of
us--and that lady soon made her appearance, and in a threatening way
ordered them to disperse. Though they obeyed her, they cast no very
friendly glances at us; and in a short time many returned--with others
who, though they did not enter the tent, crowded round the opening to
have a look at us. Indeed, not till some time after night closed in
were we allowed to rest in quiet.

We had been asleep some hours when I was aroused by a shout; and
starting up, I heard Ben cry out, "Hallo! what do you want with us, old
fellow?" Selim gave a shriek, and Boxall and Halliday sprang to their
feet, when by the dim light of the stars I caught sight of a number of
heads, adorned with horns and long beards, at the entrance of the tent.
The creatures, undaunted by our shouts, rushed in, butting against us,
and evidently determined to take possession of the tent. We soon
discovered them to be goats, which had been turned out for our
accommodation, and now seemed inclined to dispute possession and reclaim
their former abode.

"Since you have come here you shall pay for your footing, and give us
some milk for breakfast," exclaimed Ben, trying to seize one of them.
The creature, however, was not to be easily caught; and eluding his
grasp, it bolted out, followed by the rest, which we in vain tried to
secure. They did not return, and we were allowed to pass the rest of
the night in quiet.

The next morning, after the usual form of prayer had been gone through,
the scouts reported that Sheikh Hamed's people were nowhere in the
neighbourhood, and the order was given to strike camp. The women
immediately began to lower the tents, and to roll up the coverings in
packages suitable