nately large.

"Haj Mohammed! Haj Abd es-Slam! Haj el Arbi! Haj boo Shaib! Ah, Haj
Drees!" and many such ejaculations burst from their lips, together
with inquiries as to whether So-and-so may be on board. One by one the
weary travellers once more step upon the land which is their home, and
with assistance from their friends unload their luggage.

Now a touching scene ensues. Strong men fall on one another's necks
like girls, kissing and embracing with true joy, each uttering
a perfect volley of inquiries, compliments, congratulations, or
condolence. Then, with child-like simplicity, the stayer-at-home leads
his welcome relative or friend by the hand to the spot where his
luggage has been deposited, and seating themselves thereon they soon
get deep into a conversation which renders them oblivious to all
around, as the one relates the wonders of his journeyings, the other
the news of home.

Poor creatures! Some months ago they started, full of hope, on an
especially trying voyage of several weeks, cramped more closely than
emigrants, exposed both to sun and rain, with hardly a change of
clothing, and only the food they had brought with them. Arrived
at their destination, a weary march across country began, and was
repeated after they had visited the various points, and performed the
various rites prescribed by the Koran or custom, finally returning as
they went, but not all, as the sorrow-stricken faces of some among the
waiters on the beach had told, and the muttered exclamation, "It is
written--_Mektoob_."

Meanwhile the night has come. The Creator's loving Hand has caused
a myriad stars to shine forth from the darkness, in some measure to
replace the light of day, while as each new boat-load is set down the
same scenes are enacted, and the crowd grows greater and greater, the
din of voices keeping pace therewith.

Donkey-men having appeared on the scene with their patient beasts,
they clamour for employment, and those who can afford it avail
themselves of their services to get their goods transported to the
city. What goods they are, too! All sorts of products of the East done
up in boxes of the most varied forms and colours, bundles, rolls, and
bales. The owners are apparently mere bundles of rags themselves, but
they seem no less happy for that.

Seated on an eminence at one side are several customs officers who
have been delegated to inspect these goods; their flowing garments and
generally superior attire