He therefore applied to the pacha for a sufficient escort for his excursion.

This request was, however, refused; the pacha observing, that he had ceased for some time to allow travellers to undertake this dangerous journey, as until now all strangers had been plundered by the wandering Arabs, and in some instances men had even been murdered.

The pacha added, that it was not in his power to furnish so large an escort as would be required to render this journey safe, by enabling the travellers to resist all aggressions.

After receiving this answer, Count Zichy communicated with some Bedouin chiefs, who could not guarantee a safe journey, but nevertheless required 6000 piastres for accompanying him.

Thus it became necessary to give up the idea altogether, and to proceed instead to Balbeck and to the heights of Lebanon.
At the hour of noon we rode out of the gate of Damascus in company with Count Zichy.