OF THE ANCIENT ARABS. 



173 



The emblem of fire was used by the Arabs in a 

 variety of indications (Nuvairi mentions fourteen) 

 as well as that of hospitality ; and the purpose of 

 each was as easily distinguished as the state of the 

 tide is made known to the distant marmer by the 

 ball and pennon on shore. If a guest was unwel- 

 come, he was dismissed ; " the fire of expulsion' 

 was kindled behind him, and he was told that God 

 wished him never more to return. " The fire of 

 safety" told his tribe that the freebooter had returned 

 secure with his plunder. " The fire of war" admon- 

 ished the more remote inhabitants of their impend- 

 ing danger ; and it was not uncommon to see the 

 flames of peace and hostility rising from the same 

 hill. " The fire of the hon" was used to scare away 

 that troublesome and terrible animal : " the fire of 

 hunting," to dazzle the eye of the gazelle, that it 

 might be the more easily caught : " the fire ot the 

 brand" was the mark imprinted on the necks of 

 their camels,— a ring, a needle, or a cross,— by 

 which each man knew his own, and might recognise 

 them if stolen. " What is thy fire or brand V was 

 the question usually put to the person inquiring after 

 cattle, or offering them for sale to the merchant. 

 " The fire of the oaths" was that over which every 

 league or compact was solemnized. Into this they 

 threw sulphur and salt, to inspire terror ; and, re- 

 counting the various blessings derived from that ele- 

 ment, they invoked the Deity to withdraw them from 

 the breaker of his pledge ; and if any had so violated 

 his engagement, his treachery was proclaimed by 

 "the fire of perfidy." . 



The virtue of hospitality often degenerated into 

 foolish extravagance; and there were individuals 

 who strove to outdo each other in deeds of romantic 

 generosity. Those who excelled in the magni- 

 ficence of their bounty were crowned with wreaths, 

 as if they had conquered at the head of an army. 

 The liberality of Hatim was proverbial, and has im- 



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