Page:On the Desert - Recent Events in Egypt.djvu/66

 Once seated, the posture is very easy. Indeed one can ride in any posture — astride, as men ride, or sidewise, as ladies ride — and with this advantage, that one can turn either way, to the right or the left. When Dr. Post and I were riding side by side, we often turned so as to face each other, and thus had many a pleasant conversation as we moved slowly along. Sometimes the Doctor, who was an expert in such gymnastics, swung clear round toward the tail, and so watched the caravan as it came lumbering along behind us. The favorite posture of the Arab is with his legs crossed on the camel's neck. To this one easily gets accustomed. I sat thus for hours, with folded arms and folded legs — the picture of a philosopher. It is a great advantage in riding that the camel does not need to be guided. He has no bridle, but only a halter around his nose, by which he is led. To each animal there is a cameleer, who, if need be, will go before and lead him. But I soon found this to be unnecessary, since camels, left to themselves, will follow each other in Indian file, and seldom get out of the way. Thus moving on with slow and steady step, a camel's back is a good place for reading or meditation. As one has no use for his hands in guiding, he can hold a book or a letter. As I could get no new letters on the desert, I read over my old ones again and again. Here too one can find scope for endless reveries. In a caravan one is often left to himself. His companions may push ahead, or drop in the rear, so that the line of march is