CHAPTER II.

Commencement of the Journey across the Great Nubian Desert. — Description of the Caravan. — Advantages of Turkish Dress and Customs. — Provisions necessary for the Desert. — Akaba, or Mountain Passes. — Dead Camels. — Fear of Robbers. — Anxiety about the Stock of Water. — Arab Opinion of Travellers. — Alarming Diminution of our Water. — Dead Bodies of Slaves and Camels. — Hojab el Jenous. — Bab el Korosko. — Age of the Camel. — Bahr Bela Ma, or Sea without Water. — Mirage. — Perils and Charms of the Desert Life. — Dilet el Doom, Valley of the Shade of the Dooms. — Gold Mines. — Omrishi Sufir. — Wells now dry. — El Murrah, or the Well of Bitter Waters. — Hieroglyphics on the Rocks. — Colony of Bishareen. — Height and Character of the Mountains. — Arab Songs. — Gazelle. — Danger of leaving Caravan. — Absah Gold Mines. — Storms in the Desert. — Cambyses. — Bruce. — Arab Manner of mounting the Camel. — Manner in which the Arabs repose. — Arrival at the Nile. — Estimate of the Length of the Route and general Pace of the Camel 17