CHAP. XI.

TRAVELLING.

GEN. xiii. 1-3. And he went on his journey from the south, even to Bethel.] The following account of the movement of an Arab horde is illustrative of the manners of the old patriarchs: "It was entertaining enough to see the horde of Arabs decamp, as nothing could be more regular. First went the sheep and goatherds, each with their flocks in divisions, according as the chief of each family directed; then followed the camels and asses, loaded with the tents, furniture, and kitchen utensils; these were followed by the old men, women, boys, and girls, on foot. The children that cannot walk are carried on the backs of the young women, or the boys and girls; and the smallest of the lambs and kids are carried under the arms of the children. To each tent belong many dogs, among which are some greyhounds; some tents have from ten to fourteen dogs, and from twenty to thirty men, women, and children, belonging to it. The procession is closed by the chief of the tribe, whom they call Emir and Father (emir means prince), mounted on the very best horse, and surrounded by the heads of each family, all on horses, with many servants on foot. Between each family is a division or space of one hundred yards, or more, when they migrate; and such great regularity is observed, that neither camels, asses, sheep, nor dogs mix, but each keeps to the division to which it belongs, without the least trouble. They had been here eight days, and were going four hours' journey to the north-west, to another spring of water. This tribe consisted of about eight hundred and fifty men, women, and children. Their flocks of sheep and goats were about five thousand, besides a great number of camels, horses, and asses. Horses and greyhounds they breed and train up for sale; they neither kill nor sell

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their ewe lambs. At set times a chapter in the Koran is read by the chief of each family, either in or near each tent, the whole family being gathered round and very attentive." PARSONS's Tr. from Aleppo to Bagdad, p. 109.

The Compte de FERRIERES SAUVEBOEUF describes the manner of an Arab horde moving to a fresh pasturage. "Their wandering life, without ambition, brings to the mind of the traveller that of the ancient patriarchs. Nothing is more interesting than their manner of changing their abode. Numerous flocks, which precede the caravan, express, by their bleating, their joy at returning to their old pastures. Some beasts of burden, guided by the young men, bear the little ones just dropped, and not able to travel; then come the camels carrying the baggage, and the old or sick women. The rest go on foot, carrying their infants on their backs, or in their arms; and the men, mounted on the horses, armed with lances, ride round, or bring up the march of the cattle; which loiter behind, browsing too long a time. In this manner the Arabs journey, and find their homes, 'their hearths, and their country in every place."

"After smoking a pipe, and taking coffee with the Arabs, we quitted them about one, and soon after saw a smaller party, consisting of about a dozen families only, halting to pitch their tents in a beautiful little hollow basin, which they had chosen for the place of their encampment, surrounded on three sides by woody hills. The sheikh was the only one of the whole who rode ; the rest of the men walked on foot, as did most of the women also; the boys drove the flocks of sheep and goats, and the little children, the young lambs; the kids, and the poultry, were all carried in panniers or baskets, across the camels' backs. The tents, with their cordage and the mats, the cooking utensils, the provisions and furniture, were likewise laden upon these useful animals. As these halted at every five steps to pull a mouthful of leaves from the bushes, the progress of their march was very slow; but the patience of all seemed quite in harmony with the tardy movement of the camel, and it was

evidently a matter of indifference to every one of the group whether they halted at noon or at sunset, since an hour was time enough for them to prepare their shelter for the night." BUCKINGHAM's Travels in Palestine, p. 324.

NUMBERS, Vii. 2. The princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers.] Though numerous caravans are common to the Eastern roads, there is something particular in the annual travelling of those great bodies of people that go in pilgrimage to Mecca through the deserts; which may serve in the most striking and easy manner to illustrate the travelling of Israel through some of those very deserts. "The first day we set out from Mecca," says PITTS, in his description of his return from thence, "it was without any order at all, all hurly-burly but the next day every one laboured to get forward; and in order to it, there was many times much quarrelling and fighting. But after every one had taken his place in the caravan, they orderly and peaceably kept the same place till they came to Grand Cairo. They travel four camels abreast, which are all tied one after the other, like as in teams. The whole body is called a caravan, which is divided into several cottors, or companies, each of which has its name, and consists, it may be, of several thousand camels; and they move, one cottor after another, like distinct troops. In the head of each cottor is some great gentleman, or officer, who is carried in a thing like a horse-litter, &c. In the head of every cottor there goes likewise a sumptercamel, which carries his treasure, &c. This camel has two bells, about the bigness of our market-bells, hanging one on each side, the sound of which may be heard a great way off. Some others of the camels have round bells about their necks, some about their legs, like those which our carriers put about their fore-horses' necks; which, together with the servants (who belong to the camels, and travel on foot,) singing all night, make a pleasant noise, and the journey passes away delightfully. They say this music makes the camels brisk and lively. Thus

they travel, in good order, every day, till they come to Grand Cairo: and were it not for this order, you may guess what confusion would be among such a vast multitude.

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They have lights by night, (which is the chief time of travelling, because of the exceeding heat of the sun by day,) which are carried on the tops of high poles, to direct the hagges or pilgrims in their march."

NUMB. X. 31. Thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.] The importance of a guide in traversing the deserts must be evident, when we peruse the following extract from BRUCE's Travels, vol. iv. p. 586. :—" A hybeer is a guide, from the Arabic word hubbar, to inform, instruct, or direct, because they are used to do this office to the caravan travelling through the desert in all its directions, whether to Egypt and back again, the coast of the Red Sea, or the countries of Sudan, and the western extremities of Africa. They are men of great consideration, knowing perfectly the situation and properties of all kinds of water to be met on the route, the distances of wells, whether occupied by enemies or not, and if so, the way to avoid them with the least inconvenience. It is also necessary for them to know the places occupied by the simoom, and the seasons of their blowing in these parts of the desert; likewise those occupied by moving sands. He generally belongs to some powerful tribe of Arabs inhabiting these deserts, whose protection he makes use of to assist his caravans, or protect them in time of danger, and handsome rewards are always in his power to distribute on such occasions; but now that the Arabs in these deserts are every where without government, the trade between Abyssinia and Cairo given over, that between Sudan and the metropolis much diminished, the importance of the office of hybeer, and its consideration, is fallen in proportion, and with these the safe conduct."

NUMB. XX. 17, 18. Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells. And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass

by me.] "At twelve o'clock the spy came back, and reported that our enemy had posted his men to guard the stream, on both sides of the valley, in such a manner that he would not allow the shepherds of our sheikh to water their flocks. We now sent a message to Abou-Zeitun, with a proposal, that if they would allow us to pass, we would not touch their water; but he returned for answer, that we should neither pass through their lands, nor drink of their water." MACMICHEL's Journey from Moscow to Constantinople, p.223. This occurred in the land of Edom.

"It is not

DEUT. Xviii. 10. An observer of times.] an indifferent matter to travellers in Japan what day they set out on their journey, for they must choose for their departure a fortunate day; for which purpose they make use of a particular table, which, they say, has been observed to hold true by a continued experience of many ages, and wherein are set down all the unfortunate days of every month, upon which, if travellers were to set out on any journey, they would not only expose themselves to some considerable misfortune, but likewise be liable to lose all their expenses and labour, and to be disappointed in the chief interest of their journey. However, the most sensible of the Japanese have but little regard for this superstitious table, which is more credited by the common people, the mountain priests, and monks. A copy of this table is printed in all their road and house books." KAEMPHER'S Japan, vol. ii. p. 447.

"The Chinese make choice of a fortunate and lucky day to send a portion to a bride, and to be married on. The president of the College of Mathematics has the care of appointing these days, not only for marriages, but for every thing else they take in hand." FERNANDEZ NAVARETTI'S Account of China. CHURCHILL'S Collect. vol. i. p. 76.; also GROSIER'S China, vol. ii. p. 274.

"Many of the superstitious prejudices that are to be found among the Hindus prevail equally with the people of Siam. They observe the feasts of the new and full moon, and think the days that from the change precede