1 23
2 two caravans, a great and a small one (galat), the latter of only
3 ten camels, ready to start immediately for Bagdad. But as the
4 former, for the sake of food and water, was obliged to take
5 a roundabout way, lasting full six weeks, whilst the latter, by
6 following the direct road through the desert, would occupy only
7 two weeks in the journey, we sent our luggage by the greater
8 caravan, and went, with our two camels, with the galat, which
9 consisted now of twelve camels. We were obliged to take with
10 us provisions for about ten or twelve days — some clothes, and a
11 few medicines. Each camel was provided with two goat-skins,
12 to carry water, as we arrived only every third or fourth day
13 at watering-places. Each camel had also its driver, who sat
14 behind, and his furs, by the way, were full of vermin.
15 Kirkor, an Armenian merchant, from Bagdad, who led this
16 galat, advised us to leave behind every kind of weapon, as he
17 suspected that the journey would be a dangerous one, under-
18 taken thus at random. He added, that if we met, by accident,
19 the Arabs in the desert, and they found us to be armed, they
20 might become suspicious ; whilst if we passed them as poor
21 haj jees (pilgrims), saluting them with 64 Selam alekim,” we might
22 be saluted with their 44 We alekim selam,” and be allowed to
23 continue our route unmolested. We made forced marches by
24 day and night ; at noon we looked about for low ground, to light
25 our fire on without being observed, and where we could take our
26 mid-day meal, which consisted of rice with butter, biscuits and
27 dried fruits. In the evening we were not allowed to light a fire,
28 nor to whistle or sing. At a distance of about twelve or fifteen
29 miles, on our left, we saw the famous ruins of Palmyra. Up to
30 the ninth day we saw neither men, nor birds, nor wild beasts;
31 when on a sudden, in the darkness of night, we happened to
32 light on a place situated between some low hills, where ve
33 perceived some Arabs and their tents. Fortunately, and to our
34 great joy, they were all women, whose husbands, as they said,
35 were absent, hunting, that being their means of subsistence.
36 They manifested no hostile intentions, and offered us a liberal
37 portion of black dried meat, which had not an unpleasant taste,