I was at once ready to mount my camel, and at eight o'clock we were again in motion.
In a short time we had overtaken the caravan, and our camels were placed in the procession, each beast being tethered to the preceding one by a rope.

It was already quite dark, and I could barely distinguish that the people sitting on the camels before me were an Arab family.

They travelled in boxes resembling hen-coops, about a foot and a half in height, four feet in length, and as many broad.
In a box of this kind two or three men sat cross-legged; many had even spread a light tent over their heads.

Suddenly I heard my name called by a female voice.

I started, and thought I must be mistaken, for whom in the world could I meet here who knew my Christian name?
But once more a voice cried very distinctly, "Ida! Ida!" and a servant came up, and told me that some Arab women, who had made the voyage from Atfe to Cairo in company with me, were seated on the first camel.