The Prince of India, Volume I

s its inland bend rise the whitewashed, one-story mud-houses of the town El Katif. Belonging to the Arabs, the mos

up, after many devious stretches across waterless wastes of sand, at El Derayeh, a tented capital of the Bedouins, and there forked,

and dowars back of the coast under the peaks of Akdar, only a little less often than those of the holy cities. Then about the first of July the same peoples as pilgrims from Irak, Afghanistan, India, and beyond those coun

Katif the direct journey might be made in sixty days, allowing an average march of twelve miles. By way of Medina, it could be

and robbers always watchful. The sun beat upon the hills, curtained the levels with mirage, and in the fiumuras kindled invis

nstantinople, Damascus, Cairo and Bagdad. If they could not avoid the trials of the road, they could lessen th

peared like a great stock farm. Herds overran the lean earth. Makers of harness, saddles, box-houdahs, and swinging litters of every variety and price, and contractors of camels, horses, and trains complete did not wait to be solicited; the competition between them was too lively for dignity. Hither and thither shepherds drove fatted sheep

manned by Indian seamen, and lay at anchor three days before landing. His ship bore nothing indicative of nationality except the sailors. She was trim-looking and freshly painted; otherwise there

shore appeared one great shawl of variegated colors. Thereupon the wise in such matters decided the ow

ashore, he kept up a busy communication by means of his small boat. For three d

te in front that was a dazzle of precious stones such as only a Rajah could own. His attendants were few, but they were gorgeously attired, wore shintyan swung in rich belts from their shoulders, and waited before him speechless and in servile posture. One at his back upheld an umbrella of immense spread. He indulged few words, and they were strictly business. He wanted a full outfit for the Hajj; could the contractor furni

aykhs venture

ll his Highne

ou

threw up

edaries and twenty

not heard of the paschal charity, and of the fine to the

t with associates, undertook to furnish t

e of goods and provisions; one for the suite; one for the chief Shaykh, the armed guards, the tent pitchers, and the camel drivers; and a fourth one, larger than the others, for the Prince himself. With the dromedaries, camels, and horses,

is leisure march irrespective of the caravan. Nor was he unmindful in the selection of stores for the journey. Long before the sharp bargainers with whom he dealt were through w

The interior they divided into two equal compartments; one for reception, the other for a maglis or drawing-room; and besides giving the

y of general departure; and for that, as became his greatness, the Prince kept his own quarters, paying no att