Refreshment was out of the question, either for the riders or the poor beasts, and frequently we had not even water to quench our burning thirst.

The horses were compelled to labour unceasingly from sunrise until evening, without even receiving a feed during the day's journey.

The Arabian horse is the only one capable of enduring so much hardship.

In the evening these poor creatures are relieved of their burdens, but very seldom of the saddle; for the Arabs assert that it is less dangerous for the horse to bear the saddle day and night, than that it should be exposed when heated by the day's toil to the cold night-air.

Bridles, saddles, and stirrups were all in such bad condition that we were in continual danger of falling to the ground, saddle and all.