GOVERNMENT OF ARABIA. 123 



knee, and kissing it with the most profound re- 

 spect. 



The only thing like state ceremony, and in which 

 the simple manners of the court were laid aside, 

 occurred when his majesty went to the mosque. On 

 these occasions there was a splendid military pa- 

 rade, including infantry, cavalry, and officers of the 

 palace. The king rode a beautiful white charger, 

 which nobody else was permitted to mount. By 

 his side w-ere the two princes, his sons, on horses 

 richly caparisoned. Over his head, as a screen 

 from the heat, was borne a large parasol or canopy 

 of green damask, with a red fringe ornamented with 

 gold tassels, and surmounted by a globe of gilt sil- 

 ver. Immediately before the royal person rode an 

 officer carrying the Koran in a bag of red cloth ; the 

 sword-bearer rode behind. During the march of 

 this pageant, tambours, timbrels, and hautboys 

 ceased not to play ; and, to swell the train, they 

 were joined by fifty led horses and as many camels 

 from the king's stables at Damar, which had sad- 

 dles, bridles, and housings, ornamented with gold 

 and silver, with a battle-axe suspended on the one 

 side, and a beautiful sabre on the other. The heads 

 of the camels were furnished with tall plumes of 

 black ostrich feathers. The place of prayer was a 

 pavilion or open tent, into which the sovereign 

 alone entered, the spectators performing their de- 

 votions at the same time, and imitating the imam in 

 the various motions of the requisite ceremonies. 



The French deputies were astonished at contrast- 

 ing the size and elegance of the palace with the 

 homeliness of its furniture. The walls w^ere merely 

 hung round with a piece of printed calico, five or six 

 feet in breadth ; and its only accommodation was a 

 sofa, with plain cushions and carpets, which served 

 the purposes of chair, table, and bed. The plains in 

 the vicinity were sown with rice and wheat ; while 

 nearly all the hills and valleys were covered with 



