The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-10

.ha swampy nature OF the shores; Dut tnas =
..,ile further up we would find spring. This
was too tantalizing. We rode nj beast Two
miles. when the yilanous Turk made Us mart,
40 marley with Bcdouin sheik, whom ne sa'u
was to take take upon him the further escort
NJ our caravan, as his party were not smo"-
al 10 proceed beyond this point. This ieiio"'
;Le the camel, had not felt the want OF water
and forgot our sufierings. We made our
cents known TO the sheik, who conducted US
- the snrinc. a half mile back on the track
NC had lust come over. We here refreshed
ourselves, and partook Of slight repast.
Another and more important disappoint-
,oent here awaited us, which entirely trustrat-
ed some Of our long-cherished plans.
When we found that we were obliged to
change conductors, we began to explain to
the sheik the route we desired to pursue from
that point. We intended to cross the Jordan
At that place, and visit the ruins Of Geraza
thence to proceed through the Hauran, the
Decapolis and Bashan, to the point where we
now are, and thence to Damascus.
He informed us that he had The same day
received orders from the Governor oil Ma
blous, (Sychem) not TO permit any travellers
TO pass up the valley Of the Jordan beyond
his encampment, much less TO cross 1t; Tor
during many months past the troops OF ban
dit,i had been numerous along the Jordan. and
had lately become SO daring as To cross the
river, and make incursions among the wes-
tern mountains, plundering every thing In
their way. They had within day or two
attacked and carried of Turkish family, on
their way from Iiberias 10 Jerusalem by the
valley Of the Jordan. We were previously
aware that the country east Of the Jordan was
in very unsettled state, owing to the wan
derlng tribes of wild Bedouns being urged to
acts OF outIawry, by many individuals, who
had been rendered desperate by the tyranny
and cruelty Of Ibrahim Pacha, and from
whose fangs they had escaped with the loss
Of all they possessed, except life.
There was no fiction in what the sheik had
told us, as we afterwards learned from the
Governor of Nablous Although it was with
much regret that we were obliged to submit
to circumstances, and give up the part of our
intended route which have described to you,
yet believe if we could have procured a
guide, the gentlemen would have bribed the
sheik TO let us pass, and would have taken
"the responsibility" Of our personal safety,
even at the risk of losing such Of our effects
as we should have taken by that route, tour
valuables we could have sent round with a
servant and guard by another road.
Prudence, however, guided our counsels,
and we determined to abandon Gernza and
Hauran, and take the more secure route
west of the mountains and the sea Of Ga
lilee.
Our caravan arrived, and we directed our
tent TO be pitched, and dinner prepared. As
we were now so Unexpectedly to quit the
valley Of the Jordan, we could not certainly
entertain the idea Of leaving it forever, with
out once having seen the river. We COM
municated this TO the sheik, with our desire
that he would accompany us thither, in or
der to crafty our curiosity. He would not
Tor moment entertain the idea of risking
himself near the river, nor would he permit
any Of his tribe to accompany us. TO have
come TO Palestine and not to wash in the Jor-
dan, would leave stain upon our remnis-
cences Of the Holy Land, which all the wa
tiers OF ALBANIA and Pharphar could not after
wards wash away. To go to the river we
were resolved upon cOutc quill conte ; so we
requested the loan of fresh horses, determined
to go without any escort. This the sheik
could not refuse us, especially when the gen.
tlemen fourished about his head some golden
weapons.
We were soon mounted on some Of the
fieetest Arabians belonging to the tribe, and
were all doubly armed under the escort of oul
own man-of-war, Signor Giovanni, armed tC
the teeth, with not only his own accoutre.
ments, but the holsters of Monsieur Francois
and Selim in addition. All our primings
were looked to. and then repeated Cromwelps
caution to his soldiers, we started off at a
round gallop. Scarcely had we proceeded a
mile when We saw the sheik with his war.
riors at his heels, scampering after us. This
we supposed to be a manGuvre excited by the
fears OF the sheik, (whose head would have
to answer for any mshap to US through his
neglect OF the Governors orders,) and te
bring us back again to the tents We were
not to be outgeneraled by Bedbuin, and a.
we had good mile start of him we deter.
mined not to lose our vantage ground so we
slackened our reins and put our fleet coursers
to their utmost speed. The tribe at our heels
kept up loud shout, which only urged our
horses on the faster We had clear field
and free course before us, and the ground
could not have been better suited for the
winged feet of our desert stecds. had FREE
quently before took promenade on some
city-trained Arabian palirey bu, never knew,
until now, what it was to be mounted on the
wild horse of the desert in his native plains.
Accustomed to use the whip to our faded
travelling beasts, we spared it not in this case.
1t was as fair race as ever was run, the SUI
perior equestrian talents of the Bedouins
making up for the start we had of them
had the best horse, and kept the lead While
| was thus flying over the desert upon The
wings Of the wind, called to mind the words
of Maseppa:
Away away and on we dash.
Torrents less rapid and less RASH
Away away my breath was gone
saw not where he hurried !"