Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates Vol 2 - The Search For Mecca

en. XX.] We read ojir Letters. i
29
hospitality we can command, and he has dined
with us, but woukl not stay the night. There
would be danger for him, he said, to stay away so
far from his people, on account of the blood-feud
he has with the Ibn Shaalan.
I have given him a
silver handled knife as a keepsake, telling him that
it belonged to my grandfather and greatgrandfather,
which has made him value it the more, and now
he has mounted his mare and cantered back the
way he came. He is a brave, warm-hearted boy,
and, unless he is overtaken by fate in his wars and
blood-feuds, will be a great man some day.
The water here, when first drawn, tastes of rotten
eggs and sulphur, but improves on standing in
air.
It seems to be quite wholesome.
the
We have now bade good-bye to the Sebaa, and
having our heads set, as the Arabs say, towards
home, Wilfrid has agjreed that the moment is come
for reading; our letters : so I leave off in fear and
trembling, to do so, for we have had no news from
home since the 20 th of November, nearly five
months ago.