GOVERNMENT OP ARABIA. 157 



body-belt for their cartridges, and a priming-born. 

 They marched in a wide front, their matchlocks 

 sloped upon their shoulders, their free hands grasp- 

 ing the fire-arms of their comrades, singing as they 

 proceeded some war-song in loud chorus. When 

 the dowlah reined up at the gateway of his residence, 

 the military ranged themselves on one side of the 

 square, and fired three volleys in the air, retiring 

 every time to the wall to load. The only thing re- 

 markable in their exercise was their address with the 

 lance, and the extremely small space within which 

 the combatants wheeled their horses. 



The streets of Mocha present a motley appear- 

 ance, both as to the dress and character of the in- 

 habitants. Under the coarse awnings of its narrow 

 bazaars are to be seen brown and black complexions, 

 half-naked peasants, and richly-attired merchants, 

 in robes of woollen cloth, with a red woollen cap, 

 and a tassel of purple silk, peering above the folds 

 of their snow-white turban. There is the Jew, 

 the Banian, the Persian, the Egyptian, and the 

 jetty Abyssinian, straight as the young areca, and 

 having his short curled hair dyed with a reddish 

 yellow, the foppery of his country. There is the 

 stout Arab porter in his coarse brown garment, 

 bowing under a heavy load of dates, the matting 

 all oozing and clammy with the luscious burden. 

 Lastly, there is the Bedouin, with the hue of the 

 desert on his cheek, the sinewy limb, the eye dark 

 and fiery, his legs and arms bare, sandals on his feet, 

 and his bronzed bosom open to the sun and wind. He 

 walks erect, and moves onward, giving place to none ; 

 a broad, straight, two-edged sword in his hand, 

 and a long poniard in his girdle. Other objects in 



VOL. II. K 



