SOCIAL STATE OF THE ARABS. 349 



wooden dishes, the horse's feeding-bag, and the 

 iron chain which fastens their forefeet while pas- 

 turing about the camp. The Arabs seldom allow 

 their women to be seen ; and when a stranger is 

 introduced, the cry of tarik (or retire) warns them 

 instantly to disappear. It is reckoned a breach of 

 decorum to salute a lady, or even to look her stead- 

 fastly in the face. 



The mode of encamping differs according to cir- 

 cumstances. When the tents are but few, they are 

 pitched in a circle (dowar) ; if the number is con- 

 siderable they extend in a straight line, perhaps 

 along a rivulet, in rows three or four deep. The 

 sheik's is always on the side where danger is ap- 

 prehended or where travellers are expected; it 

 being his particular business to oppose the former 

 and to honour the latter. Every chief sticks his 

 lance into the ground in front of his tent, to which 

 he ties his horse or camel ; the pack-saddles forming 

 the couch on which he and his guests recline. When 

 wandering in search of water or pasture, they move 

 in parties slowly over the sandy plain. The armed 

 horsemen ride foremost as a reconnoitring detach- 

 ment ; the flocks with their young follow ; behind 

 come the beasts of burden, loaded with the wo- 

 men and children, tents, baggage, and provision. 



The ordinary costume of the Bedouins is extreme- 

 ly simple, consisting of a coarse cotton shirt, over 

 which is worn a thin, light, white woollen mantle 

 (kombaz), or sometimes one of a coarser kind (the 

 abba), striped white and brown. The wealthy sub- 

 stitute for this a long gown of silk or cotton stuff'. 

 The mantles worn by the sheiks are interwoven with 

 gold, and may be valued at \Q sterling. The com- 



VOL. II. Y 



