'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎685] (784/905)

CHAP. XXV.] A RETREAT. Qg5
camps covers a considerable space, especially when the scanti- a ca m p in the
ness ot the pasture renders it necessary to pitch the tents at
considerable distances from one another, it is often difficult, found -
in the wide desert, to find it without a special guide. While
on the route, a column is rarely met with, but one may be
occasionally seen on the verge of the horizon. Such is the
march of an Arab tribe in peaceable times, but a movement is
not unfrequently made under very different circumstances;
when, for example, the tribe is pursued by one that is hostile,
a long forced march is made, the flocks being left behind, and
perhaps entirely abandoned. The retreat is protected by the
horsemen belonging to the tribe, together with a number of
mardouffs; these are camels, each carrying two armed men,
who are provided with a bag of dates, another of flour, some
water, and a proportion of ammunition; and they have every
thing requisite for their defence.
During a retreat of this kind the people sleep and take their Preparation of
food without halting. In order that they may not fall from food during a
their camels while sleeping, they stretch themselves at length^"
on the animals, placing their feet in a bag on each side of its
neck. The food is prepared by women at certain distances from
one another. One, mounted on a camel loaded with wheat,
continues grinding with a handmill, and passes the meal to
another, who is provided with leathern water-bottles, sus
pended on each side of her camel; she having prepared the
paste, the latter is passed to a third female, who completes the
operation by baking the bread in thin slices on a chafing-dish
or portable oven, which is heated with wood and straw. This
bread, with a proportion of cheese and dates, are then distri
buted by her to those persons whom it is her province to feed,
and the frugal meal finishes with a draught of camel's milk.
The latter is drawn from the animals as they walk ; the men
using for this purpose cadahs, or large wooden bowls, which
are passed from one to another. For the protection of persons
and property in passing the desert on commercial expeditions,
merchants associate themselves together in considerable num
bers, under regulations to which the different chiefs along
the intended route become, less or more, parties. Such asso-