their neck, arms, and wrists. The children go for the most part naked.

The Bedouins encamp near some rivulet or well, where they remain until their cattle have consumed the herbage. But when, as it sometimes happens, good pasturage occurs where no water is to be had, they abstain from water for several weeks together. They drink only milk; their cattle are also able, with the exception of horses, to dispense with water so long as they can get green and juicy herbage. For the horses they are often obliged to kill camels, to obtain the water which these animals retain in their stomachs. The encampments vary in the number of tents, and the form in which they are arranged varies according to circumstances, and the season of the year. When the tents are few in number, they are usually pitched in a circle; but more commonly in straight lines when numerous, particularly if the encampment is formed near a rivulet. In winter, when abundance of water and herbage renders concentration unnecessary, the camp is dispersed over the plain in groups of three or four tents, about a mile or a mile and a half asunder. When the camp is together, near the only water in the vicinity, the cattle are sent out under the care of shepherds and slaves, and are brought back every evening. But if they prolong their stay beyond a few days, the flocks and herds are sent out to a considerable distance, and are only brought back to the tents every second or third day for water.

Having made these observations, which I thought

necessary before Kruger comes into closer connection with the wild inhabitants of the desert, and blind followers of Mohammed, I shall now return to our more immediate subject.

The two Arabs brought him to the market-place, where multitudes of people were gathered together selling various merchandize, who, instead of attending to the sale of their articles, surrounded the stranger, examining him from head to foot, smelling his hair and clothes, and greatly wondered when they heard him speak a language which they did not understand. After their curiosity had partly been satisfied, Krüger made signs to them that he was very hungry, and that he could not live upon their curiosity, which they no sooner comprehended, than they brought him food enough to last him for three days. The men, women, and children, who brought him the provision, sat around him, and anxiously watched his manner of eating.

CHAPTER II.

He is taken to the chief's house.-Annoyed by the people. -Entertains them.-A strange Arab visits the chief.— His conversation with Krüger.-Says that the inhabitants of the village sent him to behead Krüger.-Leaves and tells Krüger to prepare himself for death.—Krüger describes his own state of mind. He is taken early the following morning to the market-place, where a very great crowd is gathered.-Saves his life by embracing Mohammedanism.-Mohammed's account of Christ.-Reports of the French conquests on the coast reach the Arabs.They are encouraged by a priest to go and assist their brethren. They attack the French, and are defeated.— The priests make use of Mohammed's doctrines of fate and destiny to encourage them to another attack.-Their cowardice. Sidy Ali slays all infidels.-All return to their respective homes.

TOWARDS evening, the Arabs took him into a house, where a kind of bed was prepared for him, consisting of a straw mat and a sheep-skin, on which Krüger looked as if it had been a bed of the finest down, having been exposed for some days to the severity of the weather, without proper food, and, besides, having undergone great fatigues. He, therefore, flattered himself with a comfortable night's rest. But the Arabs, curious, and ever fond to hear some extraordinary tales, regardless of their being true, soon introduced themselves; and though Krüger knew only a few words of Arabic, they requested

him, by signs and other means, to entertain them. The Agib, or the wonderful man, as they called him, did his best; and though he thought he failed in the attempt, yet they seemed highly gratified. The house (if it may be so called) belonged to the chief, who also took, or seemed to take, a great interest in the stranger.

Whilst Krüger was thus entertaining his audience, there entered a tall and strong-looking Arab, who, after having had a short conversation with the chief, to which the people paid great attention, approached Krüger, and saluted him in the French language ; which Krüger, almost fancying himself again amongst civilized people, returned with emotions of great joy. The Arab told him, that he had been to the coast, and had intercourse with the French, whom, he said, he hated from the bottom of his heart. This gave poor Krüger great uneasiness, as it was useless to tell the Arabs that he was a Prussian, and had been enticed into the French service; this Arab took him for a Frenchman and their enemy, and would listen to no explanations. The other Arabs were soon of their countryman's opinion; and though they knew nothing more of the French than what this Arab told them, (as the conquests of the French on the coast had not reached them,) they believed them to be the enemies of the Mohammedans, and consequently also theirs. Krüger had now to expect the treatment of an enemy. The Arab left him for a short time, and when he returned, he addressed him in these words: :- "I am very sorry to be the messenger of

bad tidings; behold this new sword with which I am requested by the inhabitants of this village to sever thy head from thy body; and behold this new pot which is to contain it! How Krüger must have felt at hearing these words, can much easier be imagined than described. He, however, gathered up all his strength and courage, and asked, whether this operation was to take place immediately; and if so, as all resistance was useless, he begged his executioner to do his duty as quick as possible. But the Arab calmly told him "to sleep quietly that night, as he could delay his duty till the following morning." After he had said this, he remained yet a few minutes with Krüger, expressing his sorrow for the fate that awaited him, and driving the people out of the room, left the unfortunate man to himself.

I cannot do better than give the reader Krüger's own words of the state of his mind at this critical moment. In relating this melancholy adventure to a friend, he said:" Being left to myself in the room, I had at least an opportunity to reflect more seriously on my situation. I lifted up my heart unto God, whom I was persuaded I had greatly offended in all my actions, from my very youth until now. I could see clearly that the steps I had taken were not in accordance with his divine will, I could clearly see the errors I had committed; and, therefore, addressed my God in these words: O Lord God! how great and manifold are the sins which I have committed against thee, from the days of my youth up to this hour! How often did