n the pikes of their
tents, an osier matting which serves for a bed, a thick carpet for a
covering, and a small kettle. These are the pieces of furniture which
distinguish the rich from the poor. Their flocks, by which their riches
are estimated, consist of two or three horses, several camels, some
sheep and goats. The less fortunate have goats and sheep only.

The principal part of their devotions, and that which they observe with
the greatest attention, is prayer. There are different kinds of it: the
first commences always before sun-rising. The Talbe is distinguished by
the length of his beard, a piece of woollen cloth, half white and half
crimson, which he leaves loose and flowing about his body, and under
which appears a figure, exhausted by fasting, (the consequence of
excessive laziness), and a kind of chaplet of an enormous size. He
raises a sad and lamentable voice, which one would be ready to suppose
to be that of a pious and contrite man, but which is, in fact, that of a
hypocrite. Girt with a poignard, he seeks the place where his perfidious
arm can, with assurance, aim the blow with which he wishes to pierce the
heart of his neighbour, his friend, and often his brother. By his
uncouth sounds, he calls his people to come and range themselves under
his banner, to hear the praises of the Prophet. They all run up to him
with a holy respect; but before the priest begins his prayer, they throw
off a little coat, which they wear fastened to their girdle, and in
which they are wrapped, as it is the drapery of which their clothing
consists. The Talbe afterwards bows himself towards the ground. He
removes with his hands that upon which his feet were placed; then takes
up a handful of the sand which has not been dirtied, and in place of
water, rubs with it his face, hands and arms up to the elbows, in order
to purify himself from all his uncleanness. The people follow his
example.

When the prayer is ended, they stop for some time, sitting squat-down
behind, and trace different figures upon the sand with their fingers,
and turn them round their head, as if sprinkling themselves with a holy
unction. The savages, while thus employed, show as much exterior piety
and respect as we can do in our churches. I do not believe, however,
that it is possible to make a greater jest of religion than they do,
when their prayers are ended. The women, who only attend the morning
matins, and those which they go about at ten o'clock at