MEDINA. 229 



with the pilgrims. Few descendants of the original 

 Arabs who lived here in the time of Mohammed now 

 remain. Of the Ansars not more than ten families 

 can establish their pedigree ; and these are of the 

 humbler class, living as peasants in the suburbs and 

 gardens. The number of sheriffs descended from 

 Hussein and Hossein were formerly considerable : 

 the latter are reduced to about a dozen families, who 

 live apart by themselves, and still rank among the 

 grandees of the town. A few individuals claiming 

 the honour of descent from the Abbassides still 

 reside at Medina in a state of poverty, and are 

 known by the appellation of Caliphi, implying the 

 illustrious source whence they are sprung. 



The mixed race, of which the greater portion of 

 the inhabitants are composed, all become Arabs as to 

 features and character in course of the second or 

 third generation. In their disposition they are less 

 lively and cheerful than the Meccawees ; but, though 

 they appear outwardly more religious, and display 

 more gravity and circumspection in their manners, 

 their moral character is not better, nor are their 

 vices fewer than those of their neighbours. Their 

 style of living is poor ; though their houses are well 

 furnished, and their expense in dress and entertain- 

 ments is very considerable. As many of them are 

 descended from northern Turks, they retain much 

 of the costume as well as the habits of that nation. 

 Everybody, from the highest to the lowest, carries 

 in his hand a bludgeon or long heavy stick. The 

 rich have theirs headed with silver ; others fix iron 

 spikes to them, and thus make a formidable weapon, 

 which the Arabs handle with great dexterity in their 

 frequent bloody affrays. 



No great or wealthy merchants are settled here ; 

 the trade is merely retail, and those who possess 

 capital generally invest it in goods ; their not being 

 any public institution like banks, or commercial 

 companies, or national funds, from which the capi- 



Vol. II.— U 



