The Nevada Democrat., 1857-12-09
Dramatic scenes n, the Desert.

We have lately received from the foreign
journals general account of the robbery Of q
caravan by Arabs on the road from Damascus,
and more recent letters from Bagdnd 10 the
Press d'Orient give the following details:
When distant about FIVE days journey from
Hit, little village on the Euphrates, the cara
van going from Damascus to Bagdad lost the
track and were bewildered. This was about the
middle Of July. The caravan consisted Of about
400 persons, 100 camels, and 1900 packages OF
merchandise, three-fourths of which belonged TO
the merchants of Damascus, and the remainder
to Bagdad. Net knowing what direction to
take, and having been short of water for several
days, it was decided to unload all the camels
and send them off that very night, under the
charge of four servants, to seek fer any wells OF
water which possibly might be near, the hndlng
of which might at the same time lead to the re-
covery of the lost track. The camel drivers ac-
cordingly set off with their charge. For several
days the travellers remained encamped around
the bales of merchandise thus exposed in the
desert, anxiously awaiting the return of the
camels with their four drivers Their provisions
meanwhile sensby diminished, and rations were
prepor rtionably lesssned, particularly the supply
of water, of which there remained very scanty
amount in the remaining skins.
The camel drivers, after three days vain
search, not being able to find even the place
where they had left their companions, at length
saw their camels, broken down with fatigue and
thirst dying from hour to heur in the desert,
while others, rendered furious by their sufierlngs
fed from their charge in all directions Despair
likewise seized upon the drivers, and they also
fed, they knew not whittier. Two of them thus
perished with heat aud thirst. Happily the two
others found their way to the village Of Hit.
In the meanwhile three Arab Anezis acciden-
tally finding the encampmsnt, offered to furnish
the caravan with the necessary camels to trans
port their goods as far as Hit, demanding as a
reward, in advance payment of twenty thousand
piastres. A few of the travellers finally accom-
panied these Arabs three days journey to the
encamplnent of their tribe, where they tried to
make definite agreement as TO the sum to be
given for the service, gradually raising their of
er from 800 piasters up to 1900. This the Arabs
refused. They then offered one-half the value of
the goods in order to save the remainder This
offer had no better success. The tribe at length
pretending to have grudge against the Agihs
who escorted the caraven, refused all aid and
insisted on marching to avenge themselves upon
these last, whose numbers barely reached two
hundred in all.
Returning to their companions the party re-
lated the story of their ill success Hope gave
place to despair, and the camp was thrown into
confusion Two hours after this, party of
friendly Arabs, chasing the wild gazelle, came
up, and announced the approach of the Anezis,
bent on pillage Panic then seized the whole
caravan, who could think of nothing but aban-
doning everything to the Anezs. Guided by
the friendly Slebs-the hunting tribe who range
the whole desert at peace with all the rest-the
fugtives, with only forty recovered cames, ar
rived at Hit. leaving behind them in the desert
| three Of their number who bad perished from
thirst, and their rich merchandise, booty to
the wandering hordes.
Without counting the loss Of 1860 camels it
is estimated that there was NO less than five or
six millions Of piasters worth OF goods, besides
small articles of adventure of undetermined val
ne. BY this calamity many of the merchants Of
Bagdad are completely ruined, and Damascus
also shares seriously in the misfortune. A fort
night has elapsed since the news was known in
Bagdad, and nothing has been done, and doubt
had even thrown on its correctness when final
| ly, on the 27th Of July it was confirmed by the
son Of the chief of the caravan, who came to
Bagdad fer aid. A deputation was formed
which was to have left on the I'd of the follow
ing month. with pressing letters o. the Cover
nor General TO the grand Sheikh Of the Anezis,
in the hope of receiving at least, part Of the
lost goOds-hut il is to be feared that the Arabs
have long ago divided among themselves the
magnificent sporls and nothing will ever be
| found.-Boston Journal.