Ohfer vat ions ^cc. 501 



fand Years ago; without ever embracing any of thofe Novel- 

 ties in Drefs or Behaviour, which have had fo many Periods 

 and Revolutions in the MooriJJj and TurkiJJj Cities. Upon r/,„v sainta- 

 meeting one another, they ftill ufe the primitive Salutation"""* 

 of {Salem Aleknyn') Teace he unto you: though by their Wit 

 or Superftition they have made it a religious Compliment', as 

 if they faid. Be in a State of Sahation. Before the Mahome- 

 tan Conquefts, the Expreflion was, {^=^ s-^^) God prolong jour 

 Life, the fame with Hanjo Adorn, the Tunic Compliment, in 

 Tlautus. The Inferiours, out of Deference and Refpeft, kifs 

 the Feet, Knees, or Garments of their Superiours; whilft the 

 Children or Kinsfolks pay the fame Refpedl to the Heads of 

 their Parents and aged Relations. The Pofture they obferve 

 in giving one another the Afslem-mah, is to lay their Right 

 Hand upon their Breaft ; whilft others, who are more inti- 

 mately acquainted, or are of equal Age and Dignity, mutu- 

 ally kifs the Hand, Head or Shoulder of each other. At the 

 Feaft of their Byram and other great Solemnities, theWife com- 

 pliments her Husband by kiffing his Hand. 



It is no Difgrace here for Perfonsof the higheft Chara6ter tOA^. EwpUy- 

 bufy themfelves in what we fliould reckon menial Employments. ZTJiIuZli 

 The greateft Prince of thefe Countries, is not ailiamed to fetch '*' ^'^^'" 

 a Lamb from his Herd ' and kill it % whilft the Princefs is im- 

 patient 'till fhe hath prepared her Fire and her Kettle to drefs 

 it. The Cuftom, that ftill continueth, of walking either bare- 

 foot or only with Sandals, requireth the antient Compliment 

 of bringing Water, upon the arrival of a Stranger, to wafli his 

 Feet ^ : whilft the Perfon who prefents himfelf the firft to do 

 this Office, and to give the S^Mar-hahhah, '^^;'*] Welcome, is 

 the Mafter of the Family ; who always diftinguiftieth himfelf by 



I Ani. he (Jofepli) /aid, CTD'? D^'}V• the fame with the Arab. JO ^"i^ Peace be unto you. 

 Gen. 43. 23. Judg. 6. 23. and 19. 20. i Sam. ay. 6. &c. Joh. 20.19. Peace be unto you. &c. 

 2 The Mahometans love to call their Religion I-Jlam'tfme, from the /irab. Salama (A^^,) 

 which in the 4 Conj. is Ajlama. (^^o^)), to enter into the State of Salvation j hence E/lam 

 (j,Lx,^) The faving Religion, and Mujl'mon [f,\.uj.A or as we call it, Mujlanan, he that belkveth 

 therein. Pr'td. Ltfe o{ Mahomet, p. 11. 3 Thus we read Gen. 18. /• that Abraham ran to the 

 Herd and fetcht a Calf, upon the arrival of the three Angels. 4 In this manner we Hnd 

 Achilles and P4fr(;t/«; employed. Horn. II. p. aoj. &c. 

 Achilles at the genial Feaft prefides; 

 The Parts transfixes and with Skill divides. 

 Mean while Paiioclusfweats the fire to raife. Pope, 

 J Thus y. 4. as above, Let a little Water , I pray you be fetched and waj}} your feet. Luk.7,44. 

 / entered into thine houfe, thou gaveft me no Water for my feet i but Jhe hath wajhed my feet ri^ith 

 Tears. 



Gggg being 



