The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-12-14

I" the earth close at hand 10 our right There
was not cloud To reflect its gcties but ore vast
saffron vapor slightly tingcd with purple like
hectic Hush on the cheek offevcr, fiei the west
mere was but one visible line in the landscspr-
where the dc-ert ended and the sky began Be
low. all soon became dim and shaGowv, although
Thousand Rembrandt hues played over the sur
,ac''' Guy u waa sometime before the canopy Of
i8ht and gGld above sUbcred into gray
We had been watching with accustomed admi.
ration THIS wonderful scene 80 iutentlv, that old
Salei, one of our guides. called out twice ere we
noticed him. that there some suspicion. objects
aheah, rue enough, when we tl!d look IN the
direction pointed out We saw Il number of fantas.
uc, lldehncd shapes, that at first slowly ap-
Pfoached, but suddenly coming TO full stop and
hnldIiny together, assumed very much the aspect
~ thAt uncertain light, Of huge monster, crouch.
ing down to await our coming The word rapld-
ly passed round 10 get the firearms in order: for
S"!eh, who was dreadfuy commonplace and pes.
lti'o IN his notions, plumply declared that we
were very probably about to have an interview
with band oircbbers. It needless to say, that
the idea wa, more startling than agreeable but
II had often been suggested before sometimes
with, sometimes without, reason; so, not attaching
mnch importance to 1t, and yet not neglccting the
necessary precautions, we continued Jogging ON
who had the chcfcommand Of our kvf.la.
We were nov sufficiently near 10 distinguish
strongly relieved agaius, the southern sky. still
divided irrm the Desert by sharp rim Of lgh
the i"lm- Of number Of camrls aud men await.
ing our approach. Though not novelty to ~
the scene WAS sufficiently exciting. and might
have brcn made much Of hy a.uod romance WI
ter with the setting Of IL" sun strcug br..zr
every bias, Of which was chi.cr and chillpr hal
tegun 70 blow ruS!IiHg with low continuous
bum along the Desert and shading our capotes
with a melancholy f,apping sound A few clouds
had come out Ike night birds and few rapidly
overhead, The moon had rot vet risen. but the
stars seemed to drop Quivcrirg into their places
one b. one before the due tine OF their empire
had nrfvcd. Our camrs, checked in their per.
scvorIng march, formed with their huge burdens
Il magnhcrncen' grouras thcy mingled their long
ncokS or looked laziiy round, n If iulolcu'ly in.
qui-l'r about this sudden halt Wrr, mliucd up.
on our donkcys Presenting anything but q mar.
tAi appearance, &c. IN - hlfsc-p,ral manner. Ne
fingered tie locks Of orr double barrels Two
Eg, plian lads who accompanied II. pressed CLOSE
logrtlcr in dsnuv, and debate in whispers the
possibility Of rsc1piug hy hcadlnug Gi .ht while
VIC were al work wirh the biudli The Bed
awin', silent and thoughtfal, examined the pri
ming of their WEAPONS, ard looked anxiou-ly
thought the gloom tor some sign by which to a.
ascei tain the character o' the strangers
After few moments rlusr.a tall slight iigure
was on-cned advan,lng towards " The sheik
cooked III, gun and crept forward
like wild eat. It was the old man, uypr. bnt
this time, rs in most ullcrs, -uprrfu,us A well.
known signal announced tn Sl'ch that he might
drive on the camel,. and presently we met the
>hek coming back with an charmed Youth We
learned now that we had encountered u cOrnkaf.
ia. the drivers f which were i'tlr more tlmid
than usual on account Of the bordrr war then ri.
ging between tie llarbi and the Walled Ali
Our road Law exactly through the principal scene
Of their Conflicts anl although, rs have said. y
corn trader Is generally allowed 20 pass uuharm.
ci, there i. no knowing what the exiJeucles of
warfare nigh; not bring about.
There were ten camcs. some laden, other not.
and only Three men, or rather one man aud two
"ur mat AMI made everything ready Tor
n hsli uu'il the moon rose We invited Ali Mus
iot', the merchant, To smoke II pipe wi,hus. Bv
the glow OF the fire. lighted in order to prepare
some tei, hc seemed a Notwithstanding man
with swarthy c"untenauce and beard of
pepper and salt hue. His lar.cgrccnt turhan and
long blue shirt hr.okcucd him true teliah but
lie had likewise brown bnrrpo.. ard
capital gun which he told IL with some pride he
knew well how uus". At first he appeared u
little Shy IN swrring oHr inquiries not kGuwing
whether we might not be rivals eniedyovIiug to
surprise hl- commercial secrets hut all hesilA.
ton Vanished before handful of Tobacco and
'up of tea, into which, ut the recommendation ut
I'D oaoh, he requested u To- puur little of what
he called medicine AMI ps 'br.udr' The Bel.
iwins and those who consort with them, although
'tirk!ers fr the little Of good Mo,m-. are az,
remarkable for strict compliance wi,h the Koran |
They pray when It Is convenient perform their
lb,u'uus with sand or water indillcrcn'ly, drink
liquors when they can get them, and de- |
not seem 10 believe it Mt all necessary to hlt-
abuse or i'll treat inilcs unless at the promotion
If some sperml motive.
1t was simple, thought curious story, ,ha' |
All Mustifh told vs. or IA her began to tell u, IN |
Ne oriental and circum,'antlal way, a. We So,
here by the stor, ,ht while the caur,- who coulo |
never get sufficient nour,hment II they failed ~ |
irvuting ever moment to eating that = nutglvcu
a sleep brow 'rd away N an eyyr.w!drnIuE en- |
lie lie told US that he cane from the SAID, 81
Cpper E,ypi, and belonged to Il family winch |
rom time memorial had carried on Il trade ~
'orn with the Desert, taking dollars 10y prefer |
'uce, but IN default Of these, blankets. ct WOO.
Wy caulcls or dates, from the oa>c- IN exchange !
some of his allu-ous were ob,cuis-pcrhaps he
.omanced ll.tle; bu, from what we could gath !
'r njdcl afcrwords by the rrco,lrcious ufou old |
Gossip Sdth it seems that IN very ancient time. /
me OF MG,lGfA S ancestors, named lllsg Omar, e.
n love with a BrdHWtu gr whose trIOc had ac, !
Irn.ailv wandered once 90 the borders the Nnt |
# Egypt Hugo Omar somewhat inaprnpualcly |
nlr,cd q cow, h. whole wealth. IN exchange Coz !
Iis beloved, hu; ws- rapu..,l with c'u.cup,, an. |
l. hr Continued tohHug about ihr putUmvuu'u. /,