forms a.valley of sand about 250 yards wide. In this
bosom of a crater, salt, and bitter water is found at a
depth of only six feet from the. surface. To this our
tired camels frantically rushed upon being unloaded.
The valley was a “ valley of dry bones.” Innumerable
skeletons of camels lay in all directions ; the
ships of the desert thus stranded on their voyage.
Withered heaps of parched skin and bone lay here and
there, in the distinct forms] in which the camels had
gasped their last ; the dry desert air had converted
the hide into a coffin. There were no flies here, thus
there were no worms to devour the carcases, but the
usual sextons were the crows, although sometimes too
few to perform their office. These were perched upon
•the overhanging cliffs ; but no sooner had our overworked
camels taken their long draught and laid
down, exhausted on the sand, than by common com
sent they descended from their high places, and
walked round and round each tired beast.
As many wretched animals simply crawl to this
spot to die, the crows, from long experience and constant
practice, can form a pretty correct diagnosis
upon the case of a sick camel ; they had evidently
paid a professional visit to my caravan, and were
especially attentive in studying the case of one particular
camel that was in a very weakly condition
and had stretched itself full length upon the sand ;
■ nor would they leave it until it was driven forward.
The: heat of Moorahd was terrific ; there was. no
shade of any kind, and the narrow;,valley surrounded
by glowing rocks formed a natural oven. ' The intense
dryness of the oyerheated atmosphere was such, that
many of our water-skins that appeared full were
nearly empty ; the precious, supply had evaporated
•through the porous leather, and the skins were simply
distended by the expanded air within. Fortunately 'I
had taken about 108 gallons from Korosko, and I possessed
a grand reserve in my two barrels which could
not waste ; these were invaluable as a resource when
the supply in the skins should be exhausted. My
Arab camel-men were supposed to be provided with
their own private supply ; but, as they had calculated
Upon stealing from my stock, in which they were disappointed,
they were on exceedingly short allowance,
and were suffering much from thirst. During our
forced march of three days and a half, it had been impossible
to perform the usual toilette, therefore,- as water
was life, washing had been out of the question. Moorahd
had been looked forward to as the spot of six
hours’ rest, where we could indulge in the luxury of
a bath on a limited scale after the heat and fatigue' of
the journey. Accordingly, about two quarts of water
were measured into a large Turkish copper basin ; the
dent, although the heat was unendurable, was the only
dressing room, and the two quarts of water, with a
;due proportion of soap, having washed two people,
Mas about to be, thrown away, when the' Arab guidé,
who had been awaiting his opportunity, snatched, the
•basin from the servant, and in the agony of thirst
drank nearly the Avhole of its contents, handing, the