y one, from
the far, far distance. Our Bedouins prepared for the combat, and
advised us to take the opposite road while they advanced to
encounter the enemy. But all the gentlemen wished to take part in
the expedition, and joined the Bedouins, lusting for battle. The
whole cavalcade rode off at a rapid pace, leaving Count Berchtold
and myself behind. But when our steeds saw their companions
galloping off in such fiery style, they scorned to remain idly
behind, and without consulting our inclinations in the least, they
ran of at a pace which fairly took away our breath. The more we
attempted to restrain their headlong course, the more rapidly did
they pursue their career, so that there appeared every prospect of
our becoming the first, instead of the last, among the company. But
when the enemy saw such a determined troop advancing to oppose them,
they hurried off without awaiting our onset, and left us masters of
the field. So we returned in triumph to our old course; when
suddenly a wild boar, with its hopeful family, rushed across our
path. Away we all went in chase of the poor animals. Count
Wratislaw succeeded in cutting down one of the young ones with his
sabre, and it was solemnly delivered up to the cook. No further
obstacles opposed themselves to our march, and we reached our
resting-place for the night without adventure of any kind.

On this occasion I had an opportunity of seeing how the Arabs can
manage their horses, and how they can throw their spears and lances
in full career, and pick up the lances as they fly by. The horses,
too, appear quite different to when they are travelling at their
usual sleepy pace. At first sight these horses look any thing but
handsome. They are thin, and generally walk at a slow pace, with
their heads hanging down. But when skilful riders mount these
creatures, they appear as if transformed. Lifting their small
graceful heads with the fiery eyes, they throw out their slender
feet with matchless swiftness, and bound away over stock and stone
with a step so light and yet so secure that accidents very rarely
occur. It is quite a treat to see the Arabs exercise. Those who
escorted us good-naturedly went through several of their manoeuvres
for our amusement.

From the valley of the Jordan to the "Sultan's Well," in the vale of
Jericho, is a distance of about six miles. The road winds, from the
commencement of the valley, through a beautiful natural park of fig-