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extent of country along the eastern limits of Syria; they form as it were a great nation under one great Sheikh, but are divided and subdivided into different sections, and these into smaller and larger tribes down to the master of every family, who is himself the head of his little tribe of wives, servants, slaves, and children. The congregation of these different tribes and families together is more or less numerous according to interest, convenience, or inclination, and it is only on urgent occasions, and in case of war, that the different sections and divisions concentrate together for the general good.

The Sheikh told us that it was only the rich men among them that possessed the fine breed of horses, as one horse cost more to keep in good condition than several dromedaries, and could not bear the fatigue of long marches like the latter animal. The possession of a horse confers a mark of distinction, and horses are chiefly valued and esteemed on their predatory excursions and in conflicts. On these occasions the horsemen mount the dromedaries and lead their horses by the halter, keeping them fresh until they approach near to their foes, when, seizing their spears, they mount and dash into the thick of the enemy,

The choice beautiful Arabian horses are very scarce, and a mare of good blood is so valuable, that she is often held in partnership by several Arabs, who divide between them the profits arising from the sale of the foal.

The Sheikh apologized to us for not being able to give us such good food and accommodations as we had given him and his companions at Damascus, said they never ate so much to their satisfaction as when they were eating of our pilaff, and remarked that they were a plain, simple people, and that a very little suffices for

man.

Every now and then some of the Bedouins who formed the large circle just outside the tent door, would go for a fresh batch of fuel, consisting of dry stubble mixed with camels' dung, which they threw on to their fire, making a cheerful blaze. We had purposely provided ourselves with a plentiful store of tobacco, and a large bag of it every now and then made the round of the circle. The peculiar kindness and amenity of these people towards each other, and their soft gentle manner and smooth way of speaking, were very striking and very pleasing, so different from what we expected in the fierce robber of the desert. It

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was strange to think that these very individuals who were treating us with such generous hospitality, and would peril their lives in our defence as long as we were their guests, would at the same instant, if they had caught sight of an unfortunate human being in the neighbouring plain who was a stranger, and had not eaten "bread and salt with them," have stripped him to the skin and have left him naked to perish. With each other they seem to live as brothers, and with the stranger under their roof who has eaten food with them, but with all the rest of the world they are at open war.

About ten o'clock the different Bedouins departed. We continued to sit over the smouldering embers of the fires, which every now and then flickered wildly upon the confused assortment of furniture in the tent. The young moon shone softly and tranquilly upon the dusky plain, and a light breeze every now and then rustled the dry grass and waved the pendent curtains around us. Spreading our carpets on the dusty ground, we prepared to retire to rest. The floor was in places nearly ankle deep in fine dust, which sadly incommoded us, as it penetrated through our

clothes to the skin.

Through a hole in the tent covering I had a view as I lay on my carpet of two or three bright twinkling stars; the silence of the wide wild surrounding solitude was undisturbed even by the bark of the watch-dog, and the camp had been long hushed and quiet ere I could get to sleep.

CHAPTER VIII.

BEDOUIN CAMP.-DROMEDARIES. HORSES. BREAKFAST. -BEDOUIN

WOMEN.-DEPARTURE.-DESERT.-CARIATEIN DESERT.DJERBOAS. — BEDOUINS OF THE BAGDAD CARAVAN. -HALT.-SCENE AT SUNSET. NIGHT MARCH. RUINED TOWER.-SCENE AT SUNRISE.-JOURNEY ACROSS THE DESERT PLAIN. PALMYRENE TOMBS. — GREAT

TADMOR IN THE WILDERNESS.

DESERT.

"From dreams, where thought in fancy's maze runs mad, To reason, that heav'n lighted lamp in man,

Once more we wake."

YOUNG'S NIGHT THOUGHTS.

OCT. 27th.-Being roused before sunrise by various busy sounds, we got out of the dust in which we had been rolling all night; and to add to our discomfort, we had no water to wash ourselves.

The encampment presented a very busy scene. The she dromedaries were being milked in wooden bowls, and hot cakes of unleavened