SOCIAL STATE OF THE ARABS. 319 



the branch of a tree, and moved constantly back- 

 wards and forwards until coagulation takes place. 

 Animal food is less used than vegetable, as it is not 

 reckoned so wholesome in hot countries. Camels' 

 flesh is rarely eaten ; it is more esteemed in winter 

 than in summer, and that of the female is preferred. 

 If a man of rank happens to be a visiter, a kid or a 

 lamb is prepared : a guest of less distinction is treated 

 with coffee, or bread and melted butter. Sometimes 

 an entire sheep is roasted in a hole, dug in the sand 

 and lined with heated stones. Upon these the flesh 

 is laid, and then covered closely up with cinders 

 and the wet skin of the animal. In an hour and a 

 half the meat is cooked ; and as it loses none of its 

 juices it has an excellent flavour. It is customary 

 in the desert, when a sheep or goat is killed, to 

 eat the liver and kidneys raw, with the addition of 

 a little salt. 



The Arabs drink little during meals ; but when 

 camels' milk is plentiful it is handed round after 

 dinner. In their style of eating, they are slovenly 

 and disagreeable, if tested by the standard of Eu- 

 ropeans. They tear the meat with their fingers, if 

 not cut into small pieces before it is set down. A 

 wooden bowl containing the melted grease of the 

 animal is placed in the middle, into which every 

 morsel is dipped. They thrust the whole hand into 

 the dish at once, which is soon emptied of its con- 

 tents, as they eat with great avidity. The food being 

 always very hot, it requires some practice to enable 

 a stranger to keep pace with the company and yet 

 avoid burning the fingers. They have only two 

 meals, breakfast in the morning, and dinner or sup- 

 per at sunset. They wash their hands just before 

 eating, but seldom after ; merely licking the grease 

 off their fingers, rubbing them on the scabbards of 

 their swords or a corner of the tent-covering. Among 

 the better classes table-napkins are used, or a long 

 linen cloth which is spread under their knees. The 



