had pointed out. His regard for our property had at the same
time, he added, prevented him from risking the horse he then rode,
and not any regard for his own personal safety, which was at all
times indifferent to him in the performance of his duty. Perceiving,
however, that this gasconade, delivered with all the vehemence which
he could muster for the occasion, was not producing the effect which
he desired, he called the Prophet to witness the truth of his assertions,
and swore that we had had a most miraculous escape in
having been enabled to reach the ground we then stood upon in
safety. There was nothing to be said against such solemn asseverations
; and we contented ourselves with telling him, in the language
of his own religion, that what is destined to happen cannot be averted;
that there was no occasion to fear, either for his horse or himself, if
the time of their deaths were not come; and that if the fatal hour
had really arrived, no precautions whatever could retard it.
At the same time we declared that the marsh, in our opinion,
was not so dangerous as he had represented, and that we thought he
might cross it, in most directions, without incurring the charge of
tempting Providence too far. Mahmoud shook his head as if he did
not believe it, but said no more upon the subject; and he perhaps
thought we were more obstinate than wise in having so often refused
to be regulated by his advice.
Repeated success will, however, at all times give confidence, even
under the consciousness of danger ; and it is not to be wondered at
that we should so often have attempted the passage of the marsh,
believing, as we did, that there was little risk in doing so. But an
accident which occurred in the neighbourhood of Jebha convinced
us that more caution was necessary on these occasions; and we were
afterwards surprised, not only at our numerous escapes, but at our
want of penetration in not having sooner perceived the danger to
which the nature of the marsh had exposed us. I t is probable that
the frequent attempts of our guides to excuse themselves from any
service of difficulty or exertion, had prepared us to distrust them
on all subjects equally, and to overlook dangers for no other reason
than because they were mentioned to us by them. Truth is so
little regarded by an Arab, that when his interest or his comfort
will be promoted by a breach of it, he is always prepared with a
falsehood; and i t is difficult, eveh for those who are well acquainted
with his character, to tell when he is sincere in his assertions.
One of two things must necessarily result from this want of proper
feeling: they who place too much confidence in Arab sincerity will
continually be deceived and imposed upon, or they who distrust
it too far will on some occasions be liable to wish that they had been
less obstinate in their disbelief.
As two of our party were making their way across the marsh
(a few days after the conversation just related) to something which
bore the appearance of a ruin, the ground suddenly gave way
beneath the feet of the foremost horse, and discovered a hollow of
ten or twelve feet in depth, at the bottom of which appeared water.
The animal, who was galloping at the time,' feeling the insecurity
of his footing, sprang violently forward with all the energy of terror,
and by this sudden exertion saved himself and his rider from