128 THfl LION KILLER. 



the day on which his wife died, and to whom he has given 

 her name and transferred his affections. 



Since that time, not only has he resisted the entreaties of 

 his mother who wants him to marry again, but still wears, 

 and has assured me he always will wear until his death, the 

 badge of mourning for his lost wife. 



In order to judge of the inconvenience of mourning among 

 the Arabs, accustomed to ablutions as frequent as beavers, it 

 must be known that it consists in never washing either the 

 body or clothes. When I first knew this brave man, his wife 

 had been dead six years, and as can be easily imagined, neither 

 his person nor bournous was a model of cleanliness ; but the 

 interest I felt in his character made me pass over these little 

 inconveniences to the senses, and I warmly welcomed him 

 whenever I visited the tribe to which he belonged. 



In May, 1850, I was collecting taxes on the country where 

 Abdallah lived. As soon as he learned of my arrival, he 

 hastened to visit me, and requested permission to come and 

 see me in my leisure moments. 



As it gave me great pleasure to hear his anecdotes of war 

 and hunting, I told him I would willingly receive him, and 

 I learned the next day that he had installed himself in the 

 tent of my spahi for the rest of my sojourn in the country. 



One evening when I had finished my work, and Abdallah 

 with several native chiefs was seated in my tent, I called 

 upon him to relate to me some anecdotes from his many 

 experiences of life. 



After having exchanged the customary salutations with my 

 guests, who were his friends, Abdallah thought 'for some 



