The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1897-09-10

where the keeper, e pleasant old Ger
man, furnished reffeahmeula for man
and beast We then spent an hour or
two inspecting tho lighthouse and
looking through the big telescope by
which an vessels are glguhlod.
Ono Of my English friends had
heard of some wonderful caves aitu-
atod upon the Atlantic side. aud much
against the advice Of our host and the
guide, we resolved 10 visit them and
return to TmWeu by % roundabout
way. IL was urged that This way be-
ing much longer, we should not reach
home until after dark, and na the only
inhabitants of the country we're the
uomadic tribes of rough. lawless. shep-
herds, the venture would Doe extremely
hazardous Tor @ foreigner 90 go % mile
outside the city limits after nightinll
without o. soldier, and many travellers
by ao doing have been robbed, some
times losing their lives.
But the EngIiahman was determ-
ined; for, having q kodak, lac pur-
posed getting some views of these
nearly unknown caves. After some
hard riding over rough mountain
paths, the loose stones flying from un-
der our mules feet. and In some places
80 steep that we were obliged 20 dis
mount and lead our animals, we came
upon two shepherds who were smoking
/ by o spring. Learning from them that
the caves were several miles beyond
and as il was getting late in the day.
we thought it prudent TO take the path
for home.
We had not gone more than two
miles when we arrived before a small
collection Of shepherd huts and tents,
in front of which a number of women
and children were seated Stopping
TO inquire the road and to refresh our
mules with spring water, the English
man thought to obtain pictures Of this
wild and picturesque group.
Now among the country Arabs there
is q strong superstition regarding the
camera; they looking upon the lens as
Evil Eye, and believing that one at
whom it is directed will be bewitched,
and certain to suffer from some calan-
! ity.
Our guide, seeing the Englishman
unsling the camera, called to him to
desist, and we, having heard Of this
superstition, which amounts TO fanati
cism, added our protests, but in vain;
and no sooner did the women see the
kodak leveled at them, than they set
up fearful shrieking and turned to
run for the houses. At the sound Of
their cries, from nearly every rock and
bush q man sprang into view and
rushed toward us. The Englishman,
thinking to appease them, held up a
Spanish dollar to the fleeing women,
but the men believed it to be an in
suit to their wives, and, gathering
stones, began to pelt us from a dis
lance.
Our guide cried for us to mount and
ride for our lives, and indeed we
needed no other encouragement. At
the first volley the camera was hope
llssly ruined, and for one was heart
lily glad. Away we went at break
neck gallop, and our mules being
struck by flying stones and worried by
the'ferce dogs of the shepherds, were
soon unmanageable. The trail being
so narrow that but one mule might
p pass at q time, I had the post Of
honor, if it may be so called, being
= well in the rear; the guide was far
p ahead with the Englishman, who had
p caused all the trouble, a close second.
= During that ride 1 enjoyed much
] the same sensations as the renowned
% Gilpin may have experienced, my legs
S flying in the air and clutching wildly
D at the pommel of the high Arab saddle.
e The Arabs are VIGOROUSLY feet OF
e foot, and followed us IN a bowling
i mob. Our pace was so rapid that il
x destroyed their aim, but was struck
$ several times in the back, and once in
d the head the last nearly knocking me
n from my mule.
n Tie Arabs pursued us for about five
It miles, till at last we heard their cries
e grow fainter in the distance, anC
! uuhllY CbdSGy IL was oOLI btIhN
a that halted about two miles farther OF
:, to repair damages. al was the great
o est sufferer, being so lame chat IcoulC
d hardly sit my mule.
= Our guide informed us that on
k greatest danger had lain from tn
: path being so circuitous and precipi
a tous, for the Arabs might easily hav
1t run ahead over the hills and, arous
'e ing the country, have headed us of
We were obliged to travel very slowl
lie for the rest of the way to avoid hole
he and pitfalls, and darkness falling sud
4 denly, as it does in this climate, W
made poor progress. At last, however
N the lights of Tangiers appeared in tn
i distance, and we were soon at on
Of hotel
is The landlord, to whom we rocoun
OF ed the adventure, assured us that OF
ry GOOD fortune was due to the fact thi