The bright moonlight is also the travellers’ glory. By its light and the freshness of the atmosphere both man and beast pursue their journey without weariness until it sets, or the brighter light of dawning day gives the signal of repose. We were now in the heart of Kordofan.
-Egypt, Soudan, and Central Africa, 1861, John Petherick
On February 17, 1984, there was a full moon on the Darb al-’Arba’īn. It was rising as the sun set on what had been for us already a twelve hour day in the saddle. Nimshī, Let’s Go, said KhairAllah after we’d made the short Maghrib prayer stop. The moon did not lessen our weariness but it did give enough light to read a book, or to thread a needle, or to notice that one of Adam Hāmid’s eyes was half closed with sleep.