52 Bedouin Tribes of the Etiphrates. [ch. xviu. 



need not pay any attention now to the Paslia, Avliile 

 as for Ali Bey, lie is a mere ass. All the Tudmuri 

 laugh at him." 



On their way back to Abdallah's house, Mo- 

 hammed went on to explain that a letter had 

 arrived this morning from Deyr, which relieved 

 him of all anxiety to please Huseyn. Wilfrid 

 naturally supposed that it had contained some dis- 

 agreeable news, but the contrary is the case. It 

 appears that there has been a long-standing rivalry 

 between Mohammed's family and that of the bour- 

 geois Sheykh, which of them should be acknow- 

 ledged as Sheykh of Tudmur by the Government. 

 Huseyn, in whose district Tudmur lies, had been 

 appealed to by both, and a decision had just been 

 given, not, as one would have supposed from Mo- 

 hammed's readiness to act against the Pasha, against 

 Abdallah, but in his favour. j\Ioliammed seemed 

 to think that, now the point was gained and nothing 

 more could be expected, his obligation ceased ; but 

 this is the common rule among the Arabs, with 

 whom gratitude is unknown, even as the expectation 

 of future favours. 



Abdallah was at once made confidant of the 

 arrangement, and became very cordial with Wilfrid, 

 whom he assured was as a son to him, and then one 

 visitor after another, until I believe that the Avliole 

 town knows of it, except Ali Bey. But Mohammed 

 has undertaken that the thing shall be done, and 

 says it docs not matter who knows of it. The 



