"If Monsieur says it is all right, of course it is so;" and then he
completed his strapping. We took blankets with us, of which I had
to borrow two out of the hotel for my friend Smith, a small hamper
of provisions, a sack containing forage for the horses, and a large
empty jar, so that we might supply ourselves with water when leaving
the neighbourhood of wells for any considerable time.

"I ought to have brought these things for myself," said Smith, quite
unhappy at finding that he had thrown on me the necessity of
catering for him. But I laughed at him, saying that it was nothing;
he should do as much for me another time. I am prepared to own that
I do not willingly rush up-stairs and load myself with blankets out
of strange rooms for men whom I do not know; nor, as a rule, do I
make all the Smiths of the world free of my canteen. But, with
reference to this fellow I did feel more than ordinarily good-
natured and unselfish. There was something in the tone of his voice
which was satisfactory; and I should really have felt vexed had
anything occurred at the last moment to prevent his going with me.

Let it be a rule with every man to carry an English saddle with him
when travelling in the East. Of what material is formed the nether
man of a Turk I have never been informed, but I am sure that it is
not flesh and blood. No flesh and blood,--simply flesh and blood,--
could withstand the wear and tear of a Turkish saddle. This being
the case, and the consequences being well known to me, I was grieved
to find that Smith was not properly provided. He was seated on one
of those hard, red, high-pointed machines, in which the shovels
intended to act as stirrups are attached in such a manner, and hang
at such an angle, as to be absolutely destructive to the leg of a
Christian. There is no part of the Christian body with which the