ren are not even called by their father's name. In almost all
the colonies in which I have been conversant, there are only four or
five different names in use among them. They are distinguished by that
of their tribe, or some other surname. When an Arab sets out on a long
journey, his spouse, after having received his adieu, follows him about
twenty paces from his dwelling, and throws after him the stone, which is
used for driving in the pikes of their tent, and, in the place where it
lies, she buries it in the sand till his return. It is thus she
expresses her good wishes for a successful journey to him.

Although the women behave very indecently, both in their words and
actions, they are however faithful to their husbands. It is difficult to
reconcile the tenderness which they show towards their children, and the
barbarity with which they correct them, especially the daughters, who
are much neglected both by the father and mother. However, it is in
their appearance that they display their opulence. They ornament their
ears, arms and legs, with rings of gold and silver. They put so much
alloy in their silver, that it is little else than whitened copper. The
poorer class make use of no other metal than this.

Nothing can exceed the joy of the parents upon the birth of a son. They
think it is a very lucky circumstance when the mother is delivered
without assistance from either male or female; thus it frequently
happens that she is delivered alone. She is stretched out upon the sand,
and when the child is born, takes a drop of milk to strengthen her, and
remains lying on the ground, in a wretched tent, which scarcely defends
her from the weather.

Every woman, on the birth of a son, as a demonstration of her joy,
blackens her face for forty days. When a daughter is born, she only
daubs the half of her face, and that for twenty days. If the poor
infants could only see what a hideous appearance their mother makes,
they would not come near her breast. I never in my life saw so shocking
a sight.

I could never keep in temper to see the cruelty with which these women
use their children, even while at the breast. They give them great blows
with their fist upon the back, to make them sleep; and, to prevent their
crying, pinch them unmercifully, and twist their skin with their
fingers. I have seen these inhuman mothers set out with them the same
day they were delivered, to go to an encampment fifteen or twenty
leagues distant