2 1 4 Bcdouhi Tribes of the Euphrates, [cu. xxv. 



and harclworkecl, doing all the labour of the camp : 

 fetching wood and drawing water, setting and 

 pulling down the tents, milking the ewes and she- 

 camels, preparing the lehben, (a rather toilsome 

 work,) and cooking the dinners. They live apart 

 from the men, but are in no way shut up or placed 

 under restraint. In the morning they all go out 

 to gather wood for the day, taking a camel or a 

 donkey with them ; and, whenever we have met 

 them so employed, they have seemed in the highest 

 possible spirits. They enjoy a good deal of society 

 amongst themselves, going about together to each 

 other's tents, and taking their children with them. 

 They have, besides, the society of their male rela- 

 tions in the nearest degrees ; and their position is 

 by no means one to be pitied. They do not seem 

 to think of complaining of it. 



No people are so kind to children as the Bedouins 

 are. The son of a Sheykh is nursed and played 

 with and petted by the men in the Sheykh's tent 

 all day long ; and children are never scolded or 

 ill-used. Among the better l;)red Bedouins the 

 boys are carefully brought up, and have very 

 pretty manners. When quite young, and till they 

 are three years old, however, they are kept dirty 

 and ill-dressed, which gives them a slovenly appear- 

 ance ; but this is done purposely, to preserve them 

 from the evil eye. Later on they are as clean as 

 most of their elders, which is not, perhaps, saying- 

 much. 



