SOCIAL STATE OF THE ARABS. 329 



is sacred, and lie may inist the fidelity of liis enter- 

 tainer tlie moment he lia.s eaten bread and salt under 

 his roof. An Arab considers no emergency so ur- 

 gent or embarrassing as to palliate the neglect, nuich 

 less the violation, of that social virtue. He has 

 been heard to declare, that if his enemy should pre- 

 sent himself at the door of his tent carrying the 

 head of his own son, it would not exclude him from a 

 hospitable reception. 



These generous dispositions have been subjected 

 to certain regulations ; and it cannot be denied that 

 in some instances they proceed less from goodness 

 of heart than from vanity or the fear of reproach ; 

 for the greatest insult that can be offered to a Be- 

 douin is to tell him that he does not treat his guests 

 well. The hours of hospitality arc numbered, — 

 three days and eight hours are the term, after which 

 a stranger ceases to be a ward, and becomes a sim- 

 ple visiter. He is not dismissed ; but if he prolong 

 his stay he is expected to assist in the domestic 

 business of the tent — in fetching water, milking the 

 camel, or feeding the horse. Should he decline 

 these menial offices he maj^ still remain, but he will 

 be censured for ingratitude ; or he may go to an- 

 other tent, where he will receive a fresh welcome ; 

 and if he has a distant journey to perform, he may, 

 by changing liis residence every third or fourth day, 

 be comfortably entertained until he reach his des- 

 tination. 



It is a received custom in every part of the Desert, 

 that a woman may entertain strangers in the ab- 

 sence of her husband; when this is not permitted, 

 some male relation does the honours of the table. 

 In certain parts of Nejed, a guest is welcomed by 

 pouring on his head a cup of melted butter. Among 

 the Azir tribes a practice exists not very consist- 

 ent with our ideas of female honour': when a 

 stranger arrives, he is required to be the companion 

 of his hostess for the night, whatever be her age or 



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