New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-01

with n streak Of strange warmth, betraying thu
breath of the desert while the spectral process
sion woun,f its way to the camping-ground near
the whitc-do,. ned tomb of an Arabian Shekh. Tho
erection of de sert-paace was the work Of a few
minutes A whits circular tent was pitched--car-
pets and mating wee spread over the sand--ths
travelling bags thrown h'and everything was ready
for the lonely Housekeeping, OF the !lowatg. The
c"mels growing and gnmL'ag, lay outside the
camp The FIRE, ON which some water from eashern
bottles had been put to boil flashed over tho
motley figures of the Arabs crouchipg over il and
locking into 1t with melancholy eyes. All around
the way-hrers were closed in by the black night,
which was made blacker and more mysterious BY
the sense Of the dumb desert that lay in it, Low.
fitiu gusts stole through the darkness, and pulled
and PLAYED with the FIRE as with glitterng toy.
As the fame mounted in the winds embrace, it
flashed upon the white blank Of the tomb and
shrank again among the Arabs, sfr.ghted. The
first sleep in the desert was preceded by strange
weird emotions.
Once at midnight in ship at sea, awoke
and conscious OF The gentle rocking OF the
knew that the moon bright upon the canvas above
Portugal were In the air. knew that a stron, hand
at the wheel and faithful eye az the bow, and that
the feet Nebraska was stadnch aud sure
But In that moment, speck upon chip In the wilder
ness OF waters, my OF confidence in the slow
sway OF the ocean For the motion gentle that
OF mother to sleeping child and the anid creak Of
me neg.ng. nAe ESrses drowsy cronins L was
But when stretched myself upon the desert and
perceived its slight uneyenne~s Ike the uniuaiion o
the sea- sihened forever and heard only the breathing
OF can.e-stransc Gemonac animais--and the rustic
OF ghosty winds from the desert and the darkness,
penetrated with sense OF death, and telt how
much more awful Is the desert than the sea.
The Howadys first adventure with the carmel
gave him prejudice against that most exemplary
animal, which he neg.ects chance to ventiiate.
Here is spec nen Of the manner in which he
habtusy nyegh> against this useful brute:
A camel eXcites nosentiment or affection
in the Western did observe any indication OF tho
Arabs love for the animal lie is siguatiy adapted
his business OF walking over the desert but is awkward
and cross, and destitute OF any agreeable trait His
ton ludicrousy tf and slow. He advances as II his
advent were the coming OF grace and beauty and the
carriage OF his neck apd head is concaly ;oncetcd
beyond words My camel never suggested pleasure
bic often to but once aud that on this FIRST
morning, when, moved from the camp Sic lifted
bis head toward the desert and shifted, he tasted
home and his natural freedom in the unpoluted air
The camels seem to be only halt ramei aad some
times, seduced by the fascination OF the deserts breath,
they break from the caravan and dash away in Wild
groesque trot srrs ght n) the grim silence OF the viii
derncss bearing the luckles HJwsdji upon voyage
vague and pursucd by the ycls and means ct the Be-
doueen They are guided by halter, slipped behind
their and the nose and they swing her lie xc
necks like osriches In the fret desert days some
times thought alter the direction OF my beast by pull
ing the halter But gathered in its whole length hand
hand and only drew the long neck quite round
that the great stupid head was almost between knees
aud the hateful eyes stared mOckngly NJ my own. I
learned afterwsrd to guide the animal by Iouchn. The
side OF the neck with u stick
The Pucha's a smaller beas. than mine and look
ed and acted like Cassowary The Arabs called hi =
I'll shiraz and the Commanders dubbed POmegran.
ate by the relentless pocts Mine an immense
and formidable brute. He was called by name which
seemed me- naturally enough to sound Ike Boobie,
name which the Commander Interpreted to be one d
the ties OF beautiful But the great, scrawny.
sandy bald back of his head and his general rusty tough
and clunsiness, nsensibly begot for him In my
mind the name OF MacWhirter, and by that name he
was known go long as knew him.
The motion Of the camel which Is represented as very
weaisome, found 70 he soothing. The monot nous
swing made me ntolerably drowsy In the STILL warm
morbigns and Dragomen tell tales Of Howad who drop
asleep they ride and who losing their balance break
arms legs and necks, In their fall to the ground The
tedium OF camelridng Ia its suggishnes tor although
the beasts can trot that Suans and Caliphs have
dispatched expresses In eight days from CARO- To Danas
cue yet the of the usual travelling camel Is very hard.
The Pschas FL Shaz had sufficiently pleasant trottng
gait but MscWhrtbcrs exetions la that Kind, shook
Yet with all this, the effect of the motion of the camel
separated from his awkward and ridiculous form and ~
details IL stately and diyDined. 80 much so Indeed
that The Imagination would select him, first, as tho
bearer OF dignitary In pageant Covered with long
sweeping drapelies which should conceal him entirely.
and his rounded hump spread with heavy carpets. hs
presents moving throne for Cdiph or 5utan in
his desert pr ogrcs OF dignity unsurpassed The rider
sits supreme above the ANIMAL and the earth, and
the long lang uid movement hnmonzes with the innsnm
cent monotony OF the scene.
An admirable piece of description is the follow
ing picture of
There came suddenly strip of green
II was like branch of flowers yet fresh drifting out
to a ship at The birds sang clearly In the early
morning hig heads flashing In the bright air.
The damp sand delcaely printed with the tracks Of
brds The desert lay around US In low hillocks like the
long pillows OF retiring The air blow fresh and
sweet from the west. Fresh and sweet for was the
breath Of the Mediterranean.
And suddenly we came upon green land.
The country was like rolling pasture. Grass ana
dandelions and myriad familiar wild flowers lay.
wreaths OF welcome, nj feet There were clumps
Of palms and single acacas The cactus, also that We
calf Indian s shapeess pricky but full OF tbs sun and
fat with promise.
They the outposs Of Life whence it nodded and
beckoned TO us, and threw us towers ~ we emerged
from the death II the desert
It was a dream in beauty and In fectEoss Mao
Whirter,--incarnhte commemorative us straghs
through the dream into the desert again.
They receded they sank into vapory distance, those
beautiful orms-thc waving trees, the singing birds.
Yet they Palestine they the symbols OF tho Holy
Land Promises and hopes they sing and wave upon
the ending desert and greeted them rs the mariner u
the ship at sea greets the south and romantic Spain, u
the bough Of blossoms floating by him.
The strip Of green land passed. and wo entered upce
pure Sahara Ii the softest, most powdery sand;
tossed by light winds 1t drew sharp angles giiteriag
white angles against the dense blue The last trace OF
green vanished passed deeper among the ridges
The world a chaotic ocean Of sparkling white SAND
The desert was in that moment, utter and hopeless
desert but was never desert again. Bare, and STILL and
bright is soft beyond expression In the ful game
Of shadows played upon by the sunor vapors were
gathering overhead
Full of beauty and true feeling is the Howadjfs
account Of
TIE FIRsT SIGHT OF JERUSALEM.