Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-10-01

incident mentioned by Sir Samuel
W. Baker, in his recent work
entitled "The Nile Tributaries Of
Abyssinia :"
Many years since, when the
Egyptian troops first conquered
Nubia, a regiment Of them we're
passing across a certain desert.
The heat was oppressive, almost
beyond endurance and their sup
ply Of water was very scanty.
They were put on short allowance.
Far off they thought they saw a
beautiful lake, with branching palm
trees. They lOnged for the water
and the cool shadows. Their Arab
guide told them there was no lake
there: it was a mirage-a floating
alluring delusion. They insisted
on taking the testimony of their
own eyes, and urged him to devi-
ate from the chosen pathway
across that trackless waste. He
resisted. He would not waste the
precious time. He would not
yield to their mistaken notions.
AT last they came to open vic.
lencc; and, when they sought to
compel him to their views he re-
sisted, and they-whosc very life
depended upon his life-left him
weItering in his blood.
Then the whole regiment, wild
with delight, and eager for their
anticipated rcfreshment and re.
pose, rushed towards the fascina.
ting waters. Parched and heated,
they tore across the hot sands.
They were scorched and blinded
and bewildered and yet farther
and farther they struck into the
wide waste; farther and farther
they separated themselves from
their dead guide, who alone had
the secret Of their safety. And
still the visionary lake fed before
them as a phantom, and the palm
trees beckoned with their high.up
hands. AT last, never nearer the
object Of their search, tired and
disappointed, maddened and in
dispair, one after another was com
peeled to give up the pursuit and
to perish. Not a single man sur.
vived to tell the sad tale of their
delusion and death ; but, long az
forwards, Arabs in search Of the
party found the murdered guide
and the regiment Of withered
corpses.
THE MURDERED GUIDE.
The sun scared up on wings Of name
From out the burning East,
And as a hungry bird Of prey
wheels o'e lie carriOn feA,t-
So heeled the aroy orb Of day,
DER lying man and beast
As through the painless wastes Of sand,
slsw struggled on 4 martial band
The hoeks Of fealheFy clouds that few
From o the western night
Were chased I y soOTehlng winds that blew
Thorn inko gasaa IIVhk-
And arid sands, far rs the view
Could reach. were heated whltO-
And Heavens wide arch. 3 braEen bell,
walled in the desert, as . He'll,
At every point oil slght-
And weird mysterious forms Of air
Danced in the deserts binding glare,
As that faint, famished caravan,
with bllstered sole. and Stolld stare,
Followed dusk Arabian
In silence and despair
But Stay-the era wiling columns head
Is Gill-and liSt-a shout
"The Palms, the Palms''-and eyes ell red
Are strained across the desert dead,
To make tho objects out
ITO len, to len, sure thore they arc,
Cour ge"-the soldiers cry
"On a lesgue across the sand,
Aud VIC shall reach the promised land,
Notin tho desert die"-
Sure there they are, so fresh. so fair,
Chased 10 a limpid lake
Waving their outspTead arms In air,
Each holding forth a garland rare,
Inviting them to take
Cool shade W. spread upon the strand
The laughing waters play
And the inpatient soldiers stand,
Scarce waiting for the guides command
To hasten them away
Away 10 taste the generous aims,
OF phant m lake and spectral palms
But he, the swnrthy Arab guide,
with a more pIacticed eye.
Gazing out DER the sAnd-waste wide,
Discerns but q 4 eluslve tile,
And misty palms hard by.
Sell. poised and passionless he stands,
Where now arc lifted armed hands
Against authority.
But true 10 his appointed trust,
Ahh BlUNN W NV Wv WV W HNAHtn
That Fate to Faith Gccords.
With sab o bare and eyes Of Name,
lis righ;tI guide he dares proclaim,
In lew decisive words.
"soldiers, illusive land, you see
Form 10 TIE right--and follow me-
Wild scenes ensue. Hope phrenEied mel
/, Assault the faithful guide
And they, whose lives depended then
On his, were pitiless as when
The Christ was cruciied.
And hs alone, who bravely stool
Between them and their fate,
A victim 10 the raging flood
OrpassiOn, weltercd In his blood,
Beneath the hands Of Hate.
And theyH What boots 1t to Cxplainl
The story 10 pursuit
They whose foul prototype was Cain.
Nero driftWoOd on q bOundloss mainl
The sport Of winds that blewl
{ Wore driven by hunger, thirst, despair,