CAMr AT kas£ela-i:l-lus. 209 work ; lie usually went alone save two servants, who followed him, bearing his pipe and camp-stool ; he bore no sabre, had merely a long staff in his hand, which he, like Frederick the Great, often made use of, but never making more than one blow with it, where he found sentries sleeping, sitting, or having laid aside their arms. Very often I had to accompany him on such rounds, during which he now and then conversed with such as came in his way, knew all their names, put them into confusion by his questions, and laughed at their too simple, or oftener free and easy answers ; but much more frequently in a truly paternal tone, reminded them of their duty. At times we sat down at one of the gates, and even on the Pascha did tlie splendid rocks, and their grotesque lighting up by the tires, make an impi-ession, and strongly aiFect him with home-sickness, by reminding him of Circassia. We two brothers also often sat for hours before our hut, gazing on the ever-changing scene around, and felt as if in a dream.

The burning sun, the rays of which, reflected from the rocky walls had a double power, caused us after a time to exchange our tent for a recuba. For this purpose, Topschi Baschi made his gunners fell for us some tall Dom-palms, and drag them with mules into the camp. Our hut was to be distinguished beyond all others. I caused the two longest palms having forks to be sunk pretty deep into the ground, at the back and front, and, laying a slender stem across, bound it to the forks with withies, thus forming the gables. This was not the work of a moment, as ladders and cranes there were none. The Turks and Arabs assembled, and at first imagined that I was, at thePascha's orders, raising an enormous gallows, on which were to be hung the Sheiks held prisoners in the camp, viz. Mohammed Din and the others. Four corner timbers, each with a fork, were soon found among the sawed off remains of the palisades, sunk into the earth till only six feet of them was left above it, and two long stems bound along these, thus forming the eaves or lower rims of the roof. Then spars were laid along and tied on ; and, over all, a pretty thick thatch of long grass. The front and back, as well as the side •walls, were covered Avith durra straw, and besides defended by pales driven into tlie eartli, and wove in with the straw, thus to Q 2