Litchfield enquirer., 1852-11-11

forming coverts of deepest shade, where.
 in beast might crouch unobserved, even
 at mid day: The ground was covered
 with dry bur-grass, whose heads pierced
 through my clothes. One of the sailors
 accompanied me with club, but was in
 such deadly fear of lions that he obliged
 me to return to the shore. Certainly,
 this is the paradise of wild beasts. Such
 convenient lairs they can find in no other
 part of the world, and the thousands of
 gazelles and antele pes that range through
 the wilderness.furn;sh them with a choice
 bill of fare: The trees and vines were
 nearly all new to me. noticed in par>
 ticular sacculent vine, resembling the cactus and cereus families, but with square
 huted joints. It grew so thickay as frc-
 quently to conceal entirely the tree that
 supported it. I,also saw shrub with
 leaves like the ivy. but large, purple,
 bell shaped flower, and another with del,
 icate, fern-like leaves of dark green col
 or, and, white. fragrant blossoms. There
 was greater variety in. the vegetable
 world than l have yet seen here. What
 must be the splendor of this land during
 the rainy season I; found, peculiar
 fascination in tracing. the wild paths
 through the thickets. IL was a labyrinth
 to which there was no end, and.t sense
 of danger gave a. spice to its richness
 and,novelty. Occasionally, I saw large holes inthe ground, which my attendant said were those of serpents. No gazelfe- was 10 be seen, and when reached the shore again. the wild geese had left.
 The sun this morning showed very different landscape from that of the i previous two days. The river is broader,
 but the shores are clothed with aamore , scanty vegetation, and the few islands in ' the stream arc but beds of sand. When , the men stopped for breakfast we were in the neighborhood of the village ol tIassaniyehs, as 1 had previously cone jectured. from the camels, and donkeys l grazing among the thorns. Leaving the sailors to kill one of our sheep. took
 Achmet and the rais, end followed the
 paths inland through wood of scatter ing mimosas. After walk of ten min>
 utes we came to the village, or rather encampmeat. since the dwellings were mere tents of sticks and reads. They wera haroly largo e"e~gh to- soSer the '. two or three angarebs which served as a e bed for the whole family. Although
 the sun was an houl high. not more than
 half the inhabitants were stirring. The o others. men and women, thrust their heads from under their dirty cotton man. , ties and looked at us with aston :shment not unmixcd with fear. The women, . who mad already risen, sat on'the ground kIndling the fires, or spinning with a n rude distaff the raw cotton which these !. people cultivate. We found, two or three men, whom we salutcd with the usual "Peace be with you !" and the rais e informed them that the Sultan son, re turning from,a visit to the Si,illooks, with D whom he had made treaty ot peace, had come to see them. Thereupon, one of them brought an anga' eb and set it in U the shade for me, while another caught she goat that was browsing among the c bushes, and soon returnel with gourd = half full of warm milk. which he gave 't me. As sour milk. is considered a great C delicacy among these people, & gourd of is it was also procured for me. The wo. . man who. brought it knelt and placed il Il at my feet, but as could not drink il T. and did not wish to refuse their gift. }, asked one of the men to take 1t lo' the a boat. He lesitated. evidently afraid te a trust himself with us. whereupon the ! woman said-"L am not afraid togo witt > the Sultan ; | will lake it." As WI . started to return, the man. whose sense l of bravery, and perhaps his jealousy al s SO. was touched by this remark, came g likewise and accompanied us to.tberiser > When we reached the vessel ' sent the . milk on board for the sailors use, and gave the woman two piastres in. copper r money and handful of tobacco. She e immediately pu! her hand to her moutl U and uttered piercing, prolonged cry e which the rais said was intended as aI Is expression of great joy. After repeating j. this two. or three times she dropped oI N her knees. and before I could divine he ', intention. kissed my red clipper.
 U In short time received word tha U the women of the village would come t'
 perform dance of welcome and salu l. tation. if I would allow them. As the IL wind was blowing strongly against u' IS and the sailors had not finished skinniDl '- the sheep. had my carpet spread or 't the sand in the shade of group of mi If mosas. and awaited their arrival. Pres '' ently we heard a sound of shrill singing y and the clapping of hands in measured + beat, and discerned the processisn sd. e vancing slowly through the trees. Thel p came two by two. nearly thirty in all e singing shrill. piercing chorus. whicl + sounded more like lamentation thai n greeting. When they had arrived il e front of me. they ranged themselves ini' . a Acmicircle with their faces toward me