Note 281
The Third Kalandar’s Tale.
I have heard of such sands in the Desert east of Damascus which can be crossed only on boards or camel furniture; and the same is reported of the infamous Region "Al-Ahkáf" ("Unexplored Syria").
…d fording what little was left of the water got me to the mainland, where I fell in with great heaps of loose sand in which even a camel's hoof would sink up to the knee.[FN#281] However I emboldened my soul and wading through the sand behold, a fire shone from afar burning with a blazing light.[FN#282] So I made for it hoping haply to find succour, and broke out into these verses:—
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