ns, appeared to be most attached to him.
I have frequently seen this man steal into my master's tent during the
night, in order to carry off some old iron, or leather thong. This same
man was one of the most considerable in the village. He was consulted in
their different disputes, and his judgment was always deemed weighty by
the poor--the rich paid little attention to any man's opinion.

Among the first lessons that they teach their young folks, are, to be
expert in using the poignard, to tear the entrails of their enemy with
their nails, and to give to a falsehood the semblance of truth. Those
who to these talents add that of reading and writing, become very
dangerous monsters, and thus acquire a very great ascendancy over their
companions. It may be justly said, that they are from their infancy
familiarized with vice, and equally happy in committing a bad or good
action.

According to the custom of the country, every stranger Arab, to whatever
district or tribe he belongs, known or unknown, is entitled to their
hospitality. If there are many travellers, they all contribute towards
the expense of their entertainment. All, without distinction, go out to
meet a stranger, and welcome him upon his arrival, assist him in
dismounting from his beast, and carry his baggage behind the bush,
which is to defend him from the rigour of the night; for it is an
established custom, that no stranger is admitted into their tent. This
ceremony over, they sit down around the new comer; inquire of him the
news of the country, whence he comes, and if the party have evacuated
the places where they were encamped; if he fell in with any other person
in districts more or less remote; and likewise if he found plenty of
pasturage in the places through which he passed. When they have got an
answer to these different questions, they then inquire to what tribe he
belongs; but they never think of inquiring about his own health or
welfare, till they are satisfied as to the other questions.

If no person is acquainted with the stranger in the horde which he
visits, the richest among them entertain him. If there are many of them,
the expense, as I have already said, becomes common. They serve to each
a large bowl of milk, and of barley meal mixed with boiled milk, or
water when it can be had. If the stranger can read, they give him the
honour of saying prayers; in which case the Talbe of the village places
himself by his side, as master of the cerem