A GENTIiEMAN 283 



yet there was a good deal made and sold. When they 

 learned that their guest had lost his leg in battle, and 

 could not sit cross-legged, they absolved me with great 

 unction from the position usually demanded by polite 

 rules, and made me very comfortable, though I thought I 

 was narrowly watched to ascertain that I was not prevar- 

 icating, as the fact seemed inexplicable to them. 



I could write a book anent my Arab friends, but must 

 refrain. Suffice it that I was entertained like a prince, 

 and that I grew fond of my courtly host as I sincerely 

 believe he grew of me. On parting he kissed me on both 

 cheeks, called me brother, bent his forehead to the 

 ground, and told me that his head was at my lifelong 

 service; conjured Allah to see me back to my own roof- 

 tree (ridge-pole he called it in Arabic), and placing his 

 right hand first on his heart and then to his lips, bade me 

 what I think was an honestly regretted farewell. We had 

 become good friends, and I hope to welcome him some 

 day at home — for Si N'assour ben El Hadj Salem, little 

 travelled as he is, thinks of coming to America in this 

 year of grace, on an errand too long to detail, but which 

 proves both his enterprise and intelligence, and his care 

 for his people's welfare. 



I would have given much to get a picture of this caliph 

 as he sat his fine Arabian. I can but give a distant 

 approach to it, in the photograph of another man of 

 that ilk. 



As it happened, my friend had several good horses ; but 

 it does not follow because a man is an Arab and a caliph, 

 and rich besides, that he has any at all — except for ordi- 

 nary transportation or the use of his servants. He may 

 prefer camels or asses. Some sheiks never leave the place 

 where they hold sway, never move about, and need horses 

 as little as a knowledge of Greek. My caliph, to tell the 



