375," Simsin-Bureir, Huliekht, Julis--right through the ancient land of the
Philistines.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

A different kind of country was being met with now, much of it being,
evidently, cultivated during certain times of the year. Many villages were
also passed, some of which looked quite pretty from a distance, clustering
among their cactus hedges and a few trees. But anything green would have
looked pleasant at that moment to the men who, for so long, had seen
nothing but the arid desert. It was a case, however, of "distance lending
enchantment to the view", as a close inspection proved disappointing. The
filth in which these people live must be seen to be realised. Language
fails in this case! Their houses are simply mud huts consisting, generally,
of only one room, in which the whole family live! During the day strong
healthy men sit about outside, while the women do all the work, even to the
toilsome labour of tilling the ground! A search for water in such places is
not a very hopeful matter; at the most there might be two wells, from which
water could be got up, _a bucketful at a time_--a hopeless look out, when
there are thousands of thirsty men and horses! Nothing was seen of the
enemy that day, and when the sea came in view (what a splendid sight!), it
was evident the Gaza forces had escaped.

What an enormous amount of ammunition and stores they had left behind! It
has been stated, unofficially, it would have been enough to last them 12
months! Evidently, the enemy did not expect to leave in such a hurry.

That night the Brigade bivouacked at Julis, and the next morning (November