noon
The poor peasants , who were not overpleased with their party , remained open-mouthed with surprise . Carathis alighted , as well as her negresses ; and , severally stripping off their outer garments , they all ran to cull from those spots where the sun shone fiercest the venomous plants that grew on the marsh . This provision was made for the family of the emir , and whoever might retard the expedition to Istakar . The woodmen were overcome with fear , when they beheld these three horrible phantoms run ; and , not much relishing the company of Alboufaki , stood aghast at the command of Carathis to set forward , notwithstanding it was noon , and the heat fierce enough to calcine even rocks . In spite , however , of every remonstrance , they were forced implicitly to submit . Alboufaki , who delighted in solitude , constantly snorted whenever he perceived himself near a habitation ; and Carathis , who was apt to spoil him with indulgence , as constantly turned him aside : so that the peasants were precluded from procuring subsistence ; for the milch goats and ewes , which Providence had sent towards the district they traversed to refresh travellers with their milk , all fled at the sight of the hideous animal and his strange riders . As to Carathis , she needed no common aliment ; for her invention had previously furnished her with an opiate to stay her stomach , some of which she imparted to her mutes .