" I went down twice to Damascus while Richard was away the
first time, and I found all the gates of the city open and men posted
with lanterns everywhere. I took an escort of four of my servants, and
I told them plainly that the first man who ran away I would shoot from
behind. I came back one night at eleven o'clock, and another at two
o'clock in the morning, and nothing happened.
When I knew that Richard was coming back from the desert, I rode out to
meet him about eight miles. I did not meet him until sunset. He said
he knew a short cut to Damascus across the mountains, but we lost our
way. Night came on, and we were wandering about amongst the rocks and
precipices on the mountains. We could not see our hands before our
faces. Our horses would not move, and we had to dismount, and grope
our way, and lead them. Richard's horse was dead-beat, and mine was
too fiery; and we had to wait till the moon rose, reaching home at
last half dead with fatigue and hunger.
Our daily life at Damascus, when we were not engaged in any expedition
or excursion, was much a follows: We rose at daybreak. Richard went
down every day to his Consulate in the city at twelve o'clock, and
remained there till four or five. We had two meals a day--breakfast
at 11 a.m., and supper at dusk. At the breakfast any of our friends and
acquaintances who liked used to drop in and join us; and immediately
after our evening meal we received friends, if any came.
Pages:
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40