Arabian Days' Entertainments

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1859 Excerpt: ... THE CARAVAN. Once on a time a great caravan was passing through the desert. Over the vast plain, where nothing was visible on every side but sand and sky, could be heard already in the far distance the bells of the camels and the tinkling of the horses' silver chains. A dense cloud of dust concealed their position; but, as often as a breeze lifted the dusty veil, gleaming arms and brilliant costumes glittered on the sight. This appearance the caravan presented to a man who was approaching it from the side. He rode a superb Arabian horse, covered with a saddle-cloth of leopard's skin, and silver bells hung from its straps of scarlet leather. On the horse's head waved a plume of heron's feathers. The rider had an air of great nobility and splendor, and his dress corresponded in magnificence with the beauty of his steed. A white turban, richly adorned with gold, protected his head; his coat and his wide trousers were of a brilliant crimson; and a curved scimetar, with a richly-embossed and jewelled hilt, hung at his side. He had pressed his turban low over his forehead; and his black eyes, gleaming from under massive eyebrows, with his. long beard and high, arched nose, gave him a bold and martial aspect. When the horseman came within fifty paces of the head of the caravan, his steed bounded forward, and he reached in a few moments the van of the procession. It was such an unusual event to see a single horseman thus journeying' across the desert, that the guard, fearing a surprise, levelled their long lances. What! cried the rider, observing the hostile character of his reception, think you a single man will attack your caravan T The guard, ashamed of their fears, swung their lances back over their shoulders, while their captain rode up to the stranger, ...