Guests of the Sheik

Elizabeth describes why winter is incredibly difficult for the people of El Nahra. Though the winter rain is initially a welcomed relief from the intense summer heat, an overabundance of rain isolates the village and makes it incredibly difficult to obtain supplies. It also causes flooding. Some villagers, such as Mohammed’s sister Sherifa, suffer recurrent bouts of tuberculosis, but they are too poor to obtain proper medical attention. Elizabeth notes that everywhere she goes “some member of the family was sick” (273). She herself becomes sick with the flu and bronchitis. Elizabeth is grateful but annoyed that some of her female friends refuse to leave her side while she is sick. She realizes that in this society, the worst thing that could happen is to be left alone during an illness. However, in her mind, she needs solitude to recover.

The chapter ends with a visit from two American engineers who live near Elizabeth and Bob. Though Elizabeth is thrilled to play cards and drink beer with them, her friends come to keep her company during the visit, believing her to be secluded from the men. She has to visit with her friends despite the fact that she wants to visit with the men.