leave of Mr. Farren, and received strict charge and exhortation to attend to our safety and comfort on the journey. The influence that Mr. Farren possesses with this Bedouin Sheikh is a strong instance of the gratitude with which these Arabs universally repay a benefit conferred.

The Arabs of the great Æneze tribe inhabiting the desert of El Hammad, which borders upon the eastern frontier of Syria, when the pasturage in the desert is burnt up and wasted by the drought and heat of summer, take up their head quarters close along the cultivated land of Syria, where pasturage and water is more plentiful, and encamp all along the vast plain of the Haouran.

During the dominion of the Sultan over Syria, and during the first year of Ibrahim Pasha's reign, they were in the habit of exacting tribute from the frontier villages, and were universally dreaded from their strength and numbers. Since, however, a stronger and more settled government has been dominant in Syria, and since Ibrahim Pasha has taught them in some hard fought battles, that their valour and enthusiasm cannot prevail over the discipline and regular array introduced into his army from Europe, they have felt the necessity of controlling their depredatory incursions, and even of submitting to pay tribute for pastur

ing their cattle, and pitching their tents in the Haouran, and along the eastern Syrian frontier.

It is manifest, that the governor of Syria, when unopposed by rival Pashas, can with a strong body of forces, and some good cavalry, always convert the Bedouins from enemies into faithful allies, from the impression he can make upon all that portion of the desert within a day or two's march of the frontier, the portion most necessary and valuable to them during the summer months. Consequently, an alliance has been formed between the great Sheikh of the Æneze tribe, and Ibrahim Pasha, the former of whom has agreed that his people shall refrain from marauding excursions to the Syrian villages, and shall pay tribute of so much per tent to Ibrahim Pasha, for being allowed peaceably to pasture their numerous flocks and herds in the vast plains bordering the Syrian frontier, which can be at any time penetrated by the Pasha's troops. The Pasha's friends are moreover to be the friends of these Bedouins, and vice versa.

The great Eneze tribe is divided into several bodies, and these again into smaller tribes, who have each a Sheikh at their head. It is the Sheikh of one of these tribes under whose protection we are to proceed to Palmyra, and this

Sheikh, through the interest of Mr. Farren with Ibrahim Pasha, has lately been invested with a pelisse, and appointed to collect the tribute from the different Arab tribes who in summer pasture their herds in the desert adjoining Damascus, and between Damascus and Palmyra.

After his appointment he came to thank Mr. Farren for the service he had done him, and requested, that if ever he could be of the slightest use to him or to his friends, he hoped he would command his services. Consequently, on arrival, a messenger was dispatched to his camp in the desert, requesting him to guarantee us a safe passage to Palmyra, which he answered by presenting himself and a portion of his tribe, with dromedaries and horses to carry us thither and to bring us back; announcing that he would himself accompany us and guarantee our safety; and when once the stranger has accepted the hospitality of the Bedouin, or the Bedouin that of the stranger by, in the simple expression of their language, eating bread and salt with him, he is equally protected by his host and by the whole tribe.

CHAPTER VII.

DEPARTURE FOR PALMYRA.—MOUNTING DROMEDARIES.BEDOUIN ENCAMPMENTS.-SHAM COMBAT. —BEDOUIN WAR

CRY. NEBK. ARAB VILLAGERS.

CAMP.

SHEIKH'S TENT.- SUpper.

THEIR MIGRATIONS.

DESERT. BEDOUIN

BEDOUIN ARABS.

LA GERUSALEMME LIBERATA.

OCT. 24th. At three o'clock in the afternoon, under the shade of the trees outside the house, we found the dromedaries ready arranged for the journey; they were lying on their bellies, twisting their heads from side to side, and grunting when any one approached them. The Bedouin Arabs were busily engaged with ropes and packing apparatus; and the great beasts made strange noises

as our slight provision of food and baggage was placed on their backs, and the water-skins, which had been just purchased new at Damascus, to carry our water across the desert.

Soon after three o'clock we all mounted on horseback, and were highly amused at the fright of the Maltese servant preparing to vault into the saddle, stuck on the hump of a dromedary, the Bedouin Arabs pressing all the time with their whole weight upon the legs of the animal to prevent his rising, and recommending the poor Maltese, who was a very fat man, to be quick, and hold fast to the saddle before and behind; as unless great care is taken, when the huge animal springs up with his forelegs, he will inevitably tumble you off over his rump, which if you escape, you have the same chance of being pitched over his head when he afterwards brings up his hind legs to gain his proper erect position.

Away went the hat of the poor Maltese, down he came upon his back, and the instant after, was pitched over on his stomach; but clinging fast, he saved himself from falling. The other servant, who was an Arab, managed better. Our long procession, with the Sheikh at its head riding an Arab mare, and the different Bedouins, excited