316 GREYHOUNDS & THEIR ARAB MASTERS 



coat, so that no cold wind may touch him, and if he is 

 cross, everyone declares it is a sign of high birth. No 

 finery is thought too good for him ; necklaces and shells 

 are hung round his neck, and he wears a talisman to pre- 

 serve him from the evil eye. His diet is a matter of 

 careful consideration, and no man would dream of giving 

 his greyhound anything but the dainty bits he has kept 

 for himself. 



No well brought up greyhound would ever think of 

 hunting with any man but his master, and indeed his 

 affection and his clean habits amply repay all the trouble 

 spent upon him. If his master is absent for a few days, 

 the greyhound nearly goes out of his mind with joy at 

 his return. He jumps right on to the saddle itself, and 

 almost smothers the man with his caresses. And the 

 Arab understands all he is feeling, and says to him : 

 ' Friend, forgive me, I had to leave you. But now, come 

 with me. I am weary of dates, and need meat, and I 

 know you will be so good as to get me some.' And the 

 dog takes him at his word, for he knows he is worthy of 

 his trust. 



When the greyhound dies, the whole tent mourns for 

 him. The women and children weep, as they would for 

 one of themselves, and indeed he is often a greater loss than 

 a member of the family might be. A ' slugui ' who hunts 

 for the poor Bedouins is never sold, and only very rarely 

 given away in return for some great benefit. The value 

 of such a ' slugui,' who is a successful hunter of gazelles, 

 exceeds that of a camel ; the worth of a greyhound who 

 can capture antelopes is equal to that of the finest horse. 



