'Observations on the Passage to India, Through Egypt. Also by Vienna through Constantinople to Aleppo, and from thence by Bagdad, and directly across the Great Desert, to Bassora. With Occasional Remarks on the adjacent Countries, an Account of the different Stages, and Sketches of the several Routes on four Copper Plates.' [‎193] (258/360)

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cd from their main body, feemingly with an in
tention to treat; on feeing which we alfo fent
five of our people to meet them. A fhort con
ference enfued, and then both parties came to
our camp and were received with great ceremony
by our Sheick j they proved to be Bedouins un
der the command of Sheick Fadil, amounting
altogether including men, women and children
to near twenty thoufand. After much negoci-
iitidn our Sheifek agreed to pay a tribute of one
chequin for every camel carrying merchandize;
but he refufed to pay any thing for thofe that
carried our tents, baggage, and provifions: thefe
terms fettled, the Bedouins promifed to fend a
refeek with us, until we were paft all danger of
being molefted by any of their detached parties.
To the fouthward of us, and about four miles
diftant we could plainly perceive the ruined city
of Tiaba, but the Sheick advifed us not to vifit
it, leaft we fhould be attacked by fome ftragglers
from the Bedouin camp. Palmira, or as the
Arabs call it Tadmor, is faid to be forty-five
miles S. of this place, over the hills.
N ovember 18th. Sheick Suliman not hav
ing fettled with the Bagdad caravan, what por
tion of the Bedouins demand they fhould pay,
H h we