detention. For some time afterwards the cries of the little camel for
its mother, gone to feed, distressed us, and called to our mind the life
of toil and pain that was before the little delicate, ungainly thing. It
is worth noticing, that the foal of the camel is frolicsome only for a
few days after its birth--soon becoming sombre in aspect and solemn in
gait. As if to prepare it betimes for the rough buffeting of the world,
the nagah never licks or caresses its young, but spreads its legs to
lower the teat to the eager lips, and stares at the horizon, or
continues to browse.

Our people clubbed together and bought a goat for a mahboub. They then
divided it into five lots, and an equal number of thongs was selected by
the five part-owners of the meat; these were given to a stranger not
concerned in the division, and he arbitrarily placed one upon each
piece, from which decision there was no appeal.

On the 14th we rose before daybreak, and were soon in motion. No change
was noticed in the country, limestone rocks and broad valleys running in
all directions. The ground is sometimes scattered with fossil shells,
some of the _exogyra_, others of the oyster species; all flints. There
were apparent traces of the hyæna, but of no other wild animals. Some
sheep were at graze; and the long stubble of last year's crop of barley,
in irregular patches, told us that when there is copious rain the Arabs
come to these parts for agricultural purposes. We noticed the English
hedge-thorn here and there, and thought of the green lanes of our native
land.

Nine hours' journey brought us to the valley of Amjam, where there was a
khafilah of senna encamped among the trees. Water--rather bitter,
however--may be found here in shallow excavations; and the whole place,