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

cii. xvii.j L'homme Propose. 27
deep. The water is not particularly good, but, tliey
tell us, never foils. It is drawn by means of a
leathern bucket, but oiie of the zaptiehs having
iiccidentally dropped his
ayhdl (head rope) into the
well, climbed down to fetch it Ijy some steps there
are in the masonry. The men were, of course, very
polite and very anxious that we should stop the
night in their barracks, but this we would not do,
as Wilfrid had found a nice grassy spot about a
mile off down the Wady, and there we now are.
As we were pitching our tents, a string of camels
«ame by from the south, and we learned that they
were a party of Abu Kamis Arabs come to fetch
water for their camp, which is a day's march from
Bir, and that only a day's march beyond them are
the tents of the Ajajera, the advanced guard of the
Anazeh, while Jedaan himself with all the Sebaa are
just beyond these. This is indeed good news, and
now we are sorry at having sent the note about
Sokhne to Mr. S. ; but we cannot miss the opportunity,
and it is settled we are to go back with the
Abu Kamis to-morrow^ morning, stay a night with
them, and then on next day to the Anazeh. Our
only anxiety is lest the caravan should arrive before
we manage to get away, as there may be soldiers
with it, and they may have orders to keep us on the
Tudmur road. Mohammed, however, seems disposed
to go with us, so let us hope that all is well.
In the meantime this is a delightful spot— a hollow
full of deep pasture, where the mares and the white