1 who remained the previous evening on the opposite bank, had
2 arrived, and reported that all the stolen luggage had been
3 restored to my companion, and that he had administered some
4 medicine to the sick sheikh ; so that we might now safely go
5 over the river to fetch him, and then continue our journey. He
6 added that the sheikh, although dropsical, and dangerously ill,
7 after some consoling words from my companion, entertained
8 hopes of being again restored to health, and my companion had
9 promised to send him still better remedies from Bagdad, by the
10 man he should send with us. We then crossed the river, and
11 having met my friend, we all embarked, together with the
12 restored luggage, accompanied by a messenger from the sheikh,
13 and left that place about three or four in the afternoon. On
14 the same night we were again disturbed, a great noise on the
15 shore rousing us from our first slumber ; the owner stopped the
16 boat, and on our asking the cause, he told us that a caravan was
17 on its way to Bagdad. No news could be more agreeable to us ;
18 elevated with joy, we jumped on shore, and found that they
19 were carrying corn to Bagdad ; the caravan consisted of about
20 forty asses, two of which we hired for our accommodation ; and
21 then joined them. The messenger of the sheikh accompanied
22 us on foot, the other three persons from Hit we sent back,
23 rewarding them for their services. Although we felt extremely
24 happy at having escaped from the Agelis, nevertheless, we were
25 not completely at our ease, for we observed our drivers bend-
26 ing their bodies almost to the ground all the night long,
27 listening, and looking first to the right, then to the left, in order
28 to ascertain whether the steps of the pursuing robbers were on
29 their heels; and this they continued doing till dawn. About
30 that time they stopped, and proceeded to unload their beasts,
31 and we then lay down on the hard ground to enjoy a couple of
32 hours1 rest.
33 At sunrise we were aroused to resume our journey, and when
34 we opened our eyes and looked about, we observed some ancient
35 ruins on an elevated site, which they called Boorj-Nimroud. At
36 a greater distance we saw the golden cupolas and minarets of