AEABiAN noESE.] MODEEN VETEEINAET PEACTICE. [aeabian uouse. 



superstitious Arabs are reluctant to show their 

 horses to strangers, from a fear of the "evil 

 eye." The dread of this superstition makes 

 the Arab never omit offering a prayer to 

 Mashalla for protection. Should his horse 

 fall ill after a visit from a stranger, he imme- 

 diately calls in a sort of wizard, who, after 

 muttering some cabalistical words, breaks an 

 egg on the front of the animal ; but whatever 

 may be the imagined efficacy of this talismanic 

 operation, the patient not unfrequently dies ; 

 when the wizard gravely says, " God ordained 

 it so," or "it was written so." Thus does 

 the wizard farrier of Arabia slip out of his 

 dilemma, yet still continues to preserve his 

 character. A veterinary surgeon, however, 

 would step in and administer a proper medi- 

 cine to the animal ; and, without the assis- 

 tance of any magical nomenclature, would 

 save the life of the horse, and smile alike at 

 the remedial egg of the wizard, and the 

 solemnly absurd and cabalistic mode of its 

 application. According to European notions, 

 even some of the prophecies of Mahomet 

 are sheer nonsense, particularly those about 

 colour: others coincide with observations of 

 the present age. If Mahomet actually was 

 inspired by Allah, our wives would do well 

 never to permit their husbands to ride horses 

 which carry the tail on one side, as they are 

 sure to be soon repudiated; and maidens 

 ought to stand in awe of bachelors on stal- 

 lions which have white spots on their thighs. 



No people have surpassed the ancient Ara- 

 bians in the tenacity with which they have pre- 

 served their ancient character and habits. In 

 the life of the modern Bedouins, we still trace 

 the same as that pursued by their remote an- 

 cestors, who, in the days of Moses, and in those 

 of Mahomet, dwelt under similar tents, and 

 conducted their flocks and camels to the same 

 prings and pastures. Descended from Ish- 

 mael, whose hand, as we read in the Book of 

 Genesis, was against every one, the Arab still 

 keeps up his hostility to all men not of his race. 

 In the desert he is a robber, and in the town 

 he has all the vices of civilisation, without 

 relinquishing those of the savage state. To 

 see a horde of this nomadic people enter the 

 desert, with their women, children, horses, 

 camels, sheep, and goats ; to see them pitch 

 their tents, and take up their position on some 



green spot, amidst a sea of sand, may bo 

 deemed one of the most extraordinary episodes 

 that can be witnessed in the great epic of 

 human existence. M. de Portes, an eye-wit- 

 ness of a scene of this kind, furnishes us witli 

 a somewhat minute description of its principal 

 features. 



Eirst appear a few horsemen on tlieii- 

 mares, sweeping along like the wind, armed 

 with long lances, encircling in a gallop the 

 place where they intend to halt, and each indi- 

 vidual choosing a particular spot, according to 

 his own fancy. When he has done this, he 

 immediately drives his lance in the ground, 

 and fastens his mare to it ; as much as to say, 

 " Here shall I pitch my tent." By this time 

 a great many more are arriving; some on 

 horses, but most on camels ; and in tlie dis- 

 tance a formidable army is seen marching up, 

 pde-m^le, very fast. These are their families 

 and the bulk of the tribe, with their tents, 

 baggage, and camels ; some of the animals 

 carrying women or children ; others tents and 

 furniture; and an innumerable host following 

 quickly on foot. Those conveying the families 

 are accoutred accordiog to the wealth of the 

 owner. The camel of the Cheick carries a sort 

 of palanquin, in the shape of a canoe, placed 

 at length, and open in front, that the animal 

 may be guided in his course. This receptacle 

 usually contains three or four women, and as 

 many children ; these last in a state of nudity. 

 Each family now takes the direction of the 

 lance, which it knows, and, in an astonishingly 

 short time, a town appears to have been built. 

 The whole locality teems with life and bustle ; 

 men are shouting and talking; women are 

 getting things into order; whilst naked chil- 

 dren are running about and gambolling in the 

 water, wherever they can find a ditch. 



The camp is pitched without the least regu- 

 larity, only the tent of the Cheick is in the 

 centre, and distinguished from the other tents 

 by its larger size. All the tents are made of 

 camel or goat-skins, without elegance or neat- 

 ness, fastened by two poles six feet high. The 

 interior is divided by a carpet, one half being 

 appropriated by the women, the other by the 

 men and for the reception of strangers. The 

 furniture consists of a few carpets, straw or 

 reed mats, which serve as a bed ; but some of 

 the poorer class sleep on the bare earth, only 



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