Indeed the sum which Dthemetri
promised them was extremely small, and not the slightest attempt
was made to extort any further reward.
The council now broke up, and most of the men rushed madly towards
me, and overwhelmed me with vehement gratulations; they caressed my
boots with much affection, and my hands were severely kissed.
The Arabs now went to work in right earnest to effect the passage
of the river. They had brought with them a great number of the
skins which they use for carrying water in the desert; these they
filled with air, and fastened several of them to small boughs which
they cut from the banks of the river. In this way they constructed
a raft not more than about four or five feet square, but rendered
buoyant by the inflated skins which supported it. On this a
portion of my baggage was placed, and was firmly tied to it by the
cords used on my pack-saddles. The little raft with its weighty
cargo was then gently lifted into the water, and I had the
satisfaction to see that it floated well.
Twelve of the Arabs now stripped, and tied inflated skins to their
loins; six of the men went down into the river, got in front of the
little raft, and pulled it off a few feet from the bank.
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