station, had effect upon others besides the Yarbis; all who wished to
draw out of the _melange_ turned towards them, bringing the spectacle in
part to the very feet of the Wanderer; whereas he thought with a quicker
beating of the heart, "The followers of the Prophet are coming to show me
of what they are this day composed." Then he said to the Shaykh, "Stand
thou here, and tell me as I shall ask."

The conversation between them may be thus summarized:

The current which poured past then, its details in perfect view, carried
along with it all the conditions and nationalities of the pilgrimage.
Natives of the desert on bare-backed camels, clinging to the humps with
one hand, while they pounded with the other--natives on beautiful
horses, not needing whip or spur--natives on dromedaries so swift,
sure-footed, and strong there was no occasion for fear. Men, and often
women and children, on ragged saddle-cloths, others in pretentious
boxes, and now and then a person whose wealth and rank were published by
the magnificence of the litter in which he was borne, swinging
luxuriously between long-stepping dromedaries from El Sbark.

"By Allah!" the Prince exclaimed. "Here hath barbarism its limit!
Behold!"

They of whom he spoke came up in irregular array mounted on dromedaries
without housing. At their head rode one with a white lettered green
flag, and beating an immense drum. They were armed with long spears of
Indian bamboo, garnished below the slender points with swinging tufts of
ostrich feathers. Each carried a woman behind him disdainful of a veil.
The feminine screams of exultation rose high above the yells of the men,
helping not a little to the recklessness with which the latter bore