most the same vices. They commonly pass the
whole day stretched out upon a netting to sleep, to smoke, or to clean
themselves from vermin which torment them. The women have generally
committed to their care those employments which the men would otherwise
find no hesitation in doing reciprocally. There can be no cause of
surprise that the whole country is infected with vermin. They content
themselves with throwing them down, without taking the trouble to
destroy them. Notwithstanding all my precaution, my beard was always
filled with them, and I may safely say it was none of the least of my
sufferings during my captivity.

The men meet together sometimes in the day time, to entertain one
another with their warlike exploits. Every one recites the number of
enemies whom he has conquered. A ridiculously false story is almost
constantly followed by a charge of lying; a quarrel is the consequence;
and the conversation is generally terminated with some blows of the
poignard. They can never agitate even the most indifferent question,
without having their eyes inflamed with rage. Fury is depicted in every
the least motion, and they cannot even converse upon domestic affairs,
without roaring and yelling hideously.

Perfidy and treachery are two innate vices of the Arabs. It is for this
reason they never stir from their tents unarmed. They never make any
agreements in writing, well assured that he who receives an obligation
would poignard him to whom he signed it, to cancel his debt; and
therefore they always carry hung to their neck, a little leather purse,
in which they carry about with them whatever they consider as precious.
Although they keep nothing in their tents under lock and key, yet I have
seen some of them having small chests; these coffers, which often do not
contain the value of a small crown, are an object of desire to the whole
colony--I must not even except the brother, father, nor son of the
proprietor. My master's brother was particularly envious on account of
the small booty with which I had enriched his brother. He proposed to me
one day, as a very simple matter, that I should kill him during the
night. He offered me his poignard, and promised to conduct me to Morocco
when I had committed the crime. However discontented I then was with my
situation, this proposal shocked me--it struck me with horror. However,
it was soon renewed to me, with entreaties, by one of Sidy Mahammet's
uncles, who, of all his relatio