Saga in Sand*
Hassanein Bey, Oxford Sheik, Thirsts in the Wilderness
The Story. A small caravan led by A. M. Hassanein Bey, F.R.G.S., set out from Sellum on the Mediterranean in 1923, began to crawl in the sun's eye across the Libyan Desert. Seven months later, Explorer Hassanein reached El Fasher in the Sudan, having covered 2,200 miles of little-known terrain, discovered two important oases, mapped a new route from Egypt to equatorial Africa, collected a large amount of orographic geological material. He has written the narrative of that expedition.
Perils. Fanatical and predatory tribes that skulked in the mountains at the edge of the sand, thirsting for the blood of more effete Bedouins; snakes that cuddled against sleepers for their kindly warmth; drought, fever, storms by day and night; a sheik with yellow eyes who would have annihilated the caravan in the belief that the cameras were chests of golden nuggets. Once a quarrel broke out between the Egyptian and the Bedouin members of the company. Hassanein arbitrated, reflected with a deep thankfulness upon the danger he had thus avoided. "For the Bedouins would probably have killed Ahmed and Abdullahi out of hand," reflected this scholar and gentleman. "Then what could I have done, as an Egyptian, but avenge the killing of my countrymen at whatever cost to myself?"