444 ARAB SELF-POSSESSION. 



'He sleeps a profound sleep,' he replied; we did not 

 therefore insist further. The repast (which followed) was 

 abundant, and the conversation most animated, and the 

 Christians and the War were much discussed. 



Next day the father said, 'When I told you yesterday 

 evening that my son slept profoundly, he had just been 

 killed by falling from the top of the wall, where he was 

 playing with his mother. It was the will of God, who has 

 given him rest. So as not to mar your feasting and your 

 joy, I concealed my grief. I made my afflicted wife keep 

 silence, and her cries did not reach you. But this morning 

 be good enough to attend my son's interment, and join your 

 prayers for him, to mine.' This news, and this strength of 

 character overcame us, and we went piously to bury the poor 

 child. Such is the law of hospitality! a host is bound to put 

 away from his house all griefs, all quarrels, everything that 

 can trouble his friends' stay. For the Prophet has said, ' To 

 him who shall be generous, God shall give twenty graces. 

 Be generous, therefore, to your guest, for he brings to you 

 his benefits : in entering he brings a benediction in departing 

 he carries away your sins.' " * 



" Speed the stranger on his way to his own peo- 

 ple " has thus always been a maxim among- the Bedou- 

 in tribes, and indeed among the whole of the Moham- 

 medan races, for " Be we not all" (say the poor 

 nomads) "guests of Allah" "Has God given unto 

 them: God's guest shall partake with them thereof: 

 if they will not render unto God His own, it should 

 not go well with them. " f 



It is, perhaps, almost superfluous to add that the 

 teachings of the Holy Scriptures, are in no wise less 



* Le Grand Desert, par Eugene Daumas (French general), 1848, 

 pp. 41 to 43. 



f Arabia Descrta, by Chas. M. Doughty, 188288, Vol. i., p. 228. 



