About an hour after noon
On the summit there was suddenly a change of scenery . Behind was the monotonous sterility of the desert , and before a cultivated country , in every part of which were considerable camps in circular enclosures of from sixty to eighty tents over the plain . They perceived numerous horses and mules , as well as camels , while travellers continually passed them on the road , some mounted on camels , but the greater number on horses of a small size , all well-armed . About an hour after noon they arrived at a well , surrounded by a vast number of animals , camels , horses , mules , donkeys , goats ; and so completely blocked up was the approach that it was with the greatest difficulty that they reached the water to satisfy their burning thirst . In the evening they reached some tents belonging to Beirouc , where they passed the night . He told them that the next day they would arrive at his town , where they were to spend some time . This was agreeable news , as they hoped to obtain some means of communicating with the coast .