Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-29
THE CARAVAN IN THE DESERT. :,
4 Scene from an unpublished Journal by j. >

\
buckingham Esq.
During the recent ex petition OF Mahommeo
Ali Pasha, the Viceroy of Egypt, against .ne
Wahabees Of the Hedjaz, his highness was nc.
tanned in the Holy Land of Mahommsoans
longer period than he anticipated on ms mrs.
setting out for the war; Neither the tomo OF
the Prophet at Medina, nor the tempe OF .he
Faithful at Mecca, could console nun 10, ~ III,
loss Of his harem, which he had ieit oen,nu
him at the Egyptian capital, IN inc nope OF "is
speedy return 10 the palace in which they "e'e
immured He had accordingly sent on express
es by the fleetest dromedarics, commanding
the whole Of his wives and attendants 10 oe
| brought 10 him; and large caravan oeins d
bout 10 he formed, for the purpose Of aeCohPa
nying and conveying them OH their rou'e, a
vailed myself Of this favorable opportunity 70
! cross the desert of SueZ under lis Prolecuon;
and after the usual preparations Tor such J'u'1
ney, encamped with the rest, on the oahks o'
the Buke,el- Hadji, or the Lake OF the flisri'hs,
few miles from Cairo, which forms the grand
rendezvous at which all the scattered elements
Of the caravans are finally united, and from
whence they set out in the order necessary io'
their security. At noon the first signal gun LOT
loading was fired, when all was hustle and con-
fusion; and the breaking up OF the tents, mar
Messing the animals 10 the clumsy carriages
constructed for the conveyance OF the fasha S
wives and principal slaves, loading the cameis
which had all been watered at the lake III the
morning, arranging the stations oil the iurkish
cavalry as guards, &c. occupied all parties un-
Ill nearly four o'clock in the afternoon
A, length, on the firing Of the second gun, the
whole caravan was put in motion, and common
ced its march in the following order:-An adj.
vanced guard of horsemcn, Cat the head OF
whom was the EmirelHadJl, or Prince oil the
Pilgrims" title given 10 the CHIEF conductor
Of caravans,) kept their station two or three
miles ahead, so as 10 be almost always within
sight, except when hidden from the views by
hollow in the sands, Of which there are many,
resembling the space left between two succeed
ing pillows in a tempest; and as vessels SINK oe-
| tween the rising waves, SO as 10 De iost LOT
moment from the sight of those around them,
So even on this desert plain the same effect IS
produced by many burrows, which intercept It's
otherwise level surface. In front OF the Caravan,
and Immediately preceding it, was six pound
iron cannon, very loosely fitted as tlcld-piece,
on heavy car, and drawn by four horses On
each SIDE OF this were parties Of about twenty
horsemen! IN each, whose province it appeared to
be TO keep an equal line, by riding up and down
the breadth Of the front, and checking those
who were too far advanced, as well as bringing
up by quicker pace those who appeared 10
tarry behind. Following in succession came
separate trains of csmels, some Of which con-
tained more than fifty animals in a line. In the
centre large space was left for the haram OF
the Pasha, the principal personages OF which
were conveyed each in scperate vehicle, re-
sembling Indian Palanquin, closed on all
-. ,.,LL
i.''- - o'''>"' -"' "-..'e "~.'------'"O
camels.
All the attendant females, whether compani.
ons, servants, or slaves, were borne on camels
in kind OF tented pannier, one Of them sus-
pended on each side Of the animal, so that the
pair Of tents contained two persons, who faced
each other, and were sheltered from the sun by
the canvass, which at once covered them and
Contained Them from the pry;ng eyes Of curious
passengers In front of the central group were
pedestrian band Of musicians, who walked
between III" two principal. palanquins as they
kept their pace abreast of each other: and when
ever their portion OF the caravan halted for
few minutes, which happened frequently from
the pressure of those before, or the Intervention
OF very trjtling obstacles, they brguiled the te-
dunn OF the delay by an Arabic song, aocompa-
nying lhe voices with the common instruments
IN use among them.
As it was considered more than probable that
the known passage Of the Pasha's harem across
the desert might attract the Bfdouins Of the
surrounding country, under the hope Of being
able TO plumber them of their Jewels, sc. they
were completely hemmed in the centre Of the
Caravan; and very strongly guarded also by two
dctac hrnenls Of frry men each, under the sepa-
rate commands Of lbrabam Pasha and Ismael
Pasha. the vice-roy's sons, whose mothers were
also among the principal females Of those
whom they protected. On the right and left
OF the Centre, and about the same distance from
the nearest limits o! the edge of the caravan as
the advanced guard were from its front, two
parties OF horsemen formed what might be call
ed The wing guards, as their province was to
keep good look out in their respective quar-
ters, and TO protect that portion OF the Caravan
nearest 10 which they were placed. Behind
came trains Of cames, fastened to each o'her
in long lines, and last Of all, was party Of a
bout twenty horsemen, apparently for the pur-
nose OF Keeping the caravan as compactly as
possible, while a rear guard, at the distance OF
from Two 10 three miles astern, brought up the
whole.
The route taken by the caravan was the CEN
trail or most generally frequen,ed one, being to
L