In the Desert of Waiting: The Legend of Camel-back Mountain - Annie F. Johnston

“Thy alchemist Contentment be”
—Sadi

BOSTON
L. C. PAGE & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS

Eighth Impression, July, 1910

O ye, who vainly question
Why there must ever lie twixt man
And the far City of his Desire
Some desert waste of disappointment,
Where he must watch the Caravan
Pass on and leave him with his baffled hopes,
Here is the reason.
By the grace of Allah,
Read!

Once upon a time, a caravan set out across the desert, laden with merchandise for a far distant market. Some of the camels bore in their packs wine-skins that held the richest vintage of the Orient. Some bore tapestries and some carried dyestuffs and the silken fruits of the loom. On Shapur’s camel was a heavy load of salt.

The hope of each merchant was to reach the City of his Desire before the Golden Gate should close. There were other gates by which they might enter, but this one, opening only once a year to admit the visiting Rajahs from sister cities, afforded a rare opportunity to those fortunate enough to arrive at the same time. It was the privilege of any who might fall in with the royal retinue,to follow in the train to the palace of the ruling Rajah, and thus gain access to its courtyards. Wares displayed there for sale often brought fabulous sums, a hundred fold greater, sometimes, than when offered in the open market.