Arabs are generally thin meagre figures, though possessing expressive and sometimes handsome features, great violence of gesture and muscular action. Irritable and fiery, they are unlike the dwellers in towns and cities : noisy and loud, their common conversational intercourse appears to be a continual strife and quarrel ; they are, however, brave, eloquent, and deeply sensible of shame. I have known an Arab of the lower class refuse his food for days together, because in a skirmish his gun had missed fire : to use his own words, “ Gulbi wahr,” “ My heart aches “ Bindikti kedip hashimtni gedam el naz “ My gun lied, and shamed me before the people.” Much has been said of their want of cleanliness ; I should, however, without hesitation, pronounce them to be much more cleanly than the lower order of people in any European country. Circumcision, and the shaving the hair from the head, and every other part of the body ; the frequent ablutions which their religion compels them to perform ; all tend to enforce practices of cleanliness. Vermin, from the climate of their country, they, as well as every other person, must be annoyed with ; and although the lower ranks have not the means of frequently changing their covering (for it scarcely can be called apparel), yet they endeavour to free themselves as much as possible from the persecuting vermin. Their mode of dress has undergone no change for centuries back ; and the words of Fenelon will at this day apply with equal truth to their present appearance*. The fondness of an Arab for traditional history of the most distinguished actions of their remote ancestors is proverbial : professed story-tellers are ever the appendages to a man of rank : his friends will assemble before his tent, or on the platforms with which the houses of the Moorish Arabs are roofed, and there listen, night after night, to a continued history for sixty, or sometimes one hundred nights together. I t is a great exercise of genius, and a peculiar gift, held in high estimation amongst them. They have a quickness and clearness of delivery, with a perfect command of words, surprising to a European ear : they never hesitate, are never at a loss ; their descriptions are highly poetical, and their relations exemplified by figure and metaphor, the * Leurs habits sont aisés à faire, car en ce doux climat on ne porte qu’une piece d'étoffe fine et légère, qui n’est point taillée et que chacun met à longs plis autour de son corps pour la modestie ; lui donnant la forme qu’il veut. most striking and appropriate : their extempore songs are also full of fire, and possess many beautiful and happy similes. Certain tribes are celebrated for this gift of extempore speaking and singing; the chiefs cultivate the propensity in their children ; and it is often possessed, to an astonishing degree, by men who are unable either to read or write. Arabic songs go to th e heart, and excite greatly the passions : I have seen a circle of Arabs straining their eyes with a fixed attention at one moment, and bursting with loud laughter ; at the next, melting into tears, and clasping their hands in all the ecstacy of grief and sympathy. Their attachment to pastoral life is ever favourable to love. Many of these children of the desert possess intelligence and feeling, which belong not to the savage.; accompanied by an heroic courage, and a thorough contempt of every mode of gaining their, livelihood, except by the sword and gun. An Arab values himself chiefly on his expertness in arms and horsemanship, and on hospitality. Hospitality was ever habitual to them. At this day, the greatest reproach to an .Arab .tribe is, “ that none of their men have the heart to give, nor their women to deny.” Nor does this feeling of liberality alone extend to the chiefs, or .Arabs of high b irth : -I have known the poor and wandering Bedouin to practise a degree of charity, and hospitality far beyond bis means, from a sense of duty alone. Notwithstanding all the savageness of an Arab, there are sometimes noble thoughts which seem to cross over his powerful mind ; and then again to leave him choked up with weeds of too strong a growth to be rooted out. The M’Garha sheikhs were, after the defeat Of Waled Suleyman, all taken into the bashaw’s service ; and are now amongst his most faithful and favoured followers. Abdi Zeleel ben Seffenusser, upon his submission, had been assigned some portion of his grandsire’s extensive lands at Sebha in Fezzan ; and on his being ordered to repair with a certain number of camels to Mourzuk, and to accompany the Sultan of Fezzan into the negro country, he was reported to have delayed obeying the order: his enemies attributed his reluctance to disaffection and want of courage. The bashaw’s judgment was summary; and Hamet Ghreneim, the brother of my chaoush, was despatched with a letter to Abdi Zeleel, and orders to stab him while he read it, and return with his head. The
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