204 Bedotiin Tribes of the Euphrates, [ch, xxv. 



mare as well as lie knows his own. But the rule, 

 however occasioned, is now universally admitted ; 

 and I have noticed repeated instances in which 

 truth on this point had Ijeen scrupulously told, when 

 there were no witnesses present, and to the disad- 

 vantage of the teller. " What is the breed of your 

 mare ?'' I have said, to a poor man who has brought 

 his beast expecting me to buy it. " Shuemeh," he 

 has answered. — "Not Shuemeh Sbah then?" — 

 " No, Shuemeh ; " and this, although knowing that 

 the money value of the former would be three times 

 that of the latter. The rule, however, does not hold 

 good on any other point of horse dealing. The age, 

 the cjualities, and the ownership of the horse may 

 be all falsely stated. 



With regard to honesty, the pure Bedouin stands 

 in marked contrast to his half-bred brethren. Among 

 these thieving is the rule, nor is the term liar ami, 

 thieves, ill-taken when applied to them. The Kurdish 

 and semi-Kurdish tribes of Upper Mesopotamia 

 make it almost a point of honour to steal, but the 

 pure Arab accounts it disgraceful. Acts of petty 

 larceny are unknown among the Anazeh and Sham- 

 mar. During the whole of our travels we never lost 

 in this way so much as the value of a shilling. 

 Highway robbery, on the other hand, is not only 

 permitted, but held to be a right ; and travellers, 

 passing without proper escort from or introduction 

 to the tribes, may expect to lose their beasts, goods, 

 clothes, and all they possess. There is no kind of 



