274 



SCANT RATIONS 



a curved iron -pointed forked stick, and leave the rest to 

 Allah. His crops are not unapt to fail unless there be 

 goodly rains. If there is enough, the soil yields plentifully 

 by April or May. In the summer there is no rain ; the 

 earth is like a furnace seven times heated, and nothing 

 can grow. The Barbary fig is then the saving clause in 



TUNISIAN HAT 



the Arab's existence. It is lucky for him that generations 

 of scant rations have got him used to eating sparsely. It 

 is amazing how little the people of hot climates unless 

 they are of European stock can get along Avith. A hand- 

 ful of rice three times a day enables the Japanese coolie 

 to drag you in his jinrikisha a good forty miles ; or the 

 same food will carry the Calcutta coal-heaver through a 



