CHOICE OF CAMP. 207 months, to let the rainy season pass over, and then continue our conquests. At last the Pascha and his followers galloped up. I drew his attention to the spot where we had halted being highly suited for the camp; as it Avas open on three sides, to the east leant on a perpendicular wall of rock, and water was near. He thought a better place could be found, and Avc had to ride on for an hour, till we reached a ravine, in the bottom of which we saw the village of Kadmin, or Assunia, at the foot of the iimnense masses of rock of the main mountain of Kassela-el-Lus. But the ground here was cut up by rocky 1 ridges, and it was plain that the hill shed down a part of its \ waters on it. The Pascha I'ode backwards and forwards, dismounted and received some of the people of the village, who made i queer faces when they found the camp was to be pitched immediately over their heads. I had already discovered a somewhat raised spot, where we had made our dromedaries lie down, thus taking possession of it for our tents ; the Pascha looked at us, again mounted his Arab, and Ave followed him back to the flat, I had at first proposed as our camping-place. Our first business Avas to get up our tent as quickly as possible, and to send for Avater, as my brother Avas complaining of violent headache, although as yet the Pascha had given no orders to encamp there. No sooner Avas our tent up, than all the army began to pitch theirs round us, as if by liigher orders, and as noAv the Pascha had also had his pitched, I hastened to him, begged him to have sufficient extent and room given the camp, and, for that purpose, to place some picqucts out, so as to at least give it some regular figure, oblong or square. Inside the different detachments of the army sat doAvn as they pleased, but ahvays as far off" as they could from the Pascha, so as not to be overlooked by him, or at least as little as possible. By this there Avas left a kind of clear space in the centre of the camp, on Avhich, to our great joy, stood isolated the Pasclia's tents and ours. Such Avas the beginning of the city to be founded here,— a picture of Avhat was perhaps only a repetition of Avluit liad occurred in founding other older cities.

With gloomy fjice, silent and thoughtful, sat tlie Pascha, noAv the Rubicon Avas crossed ; and then first sounded the cannono