SOCIAL STATE OP THE ARABS. 375 



tent, and places the other end in the hand of the 

 owner, who by this means is guided to the prisoner, 

 and claims him as his " protected." The right of 

 freedom is at once allowed ; the thongs which tied 

 his hair are cut, his fetters are struck off, and he is 

 entertained by the captor as his guest, with all the 

 honours of Arabian hospitality. To avoid paying 

 a ransom, a prisoner will often remain six months 

 under this rigorous custody, always concealing his 

 real name, and giving himself out for a poor men- 

 dicant. He is, however, generally recognised, and 

 obliged to purchase his liberty at the expense of 

 all his property in horses, camels, sheep, tents, pro- 

 visions, and baggage. 



Should the robbers fail in their enterprise, and 

 meet, when returning, a hostile party of the tribe 

 they intended to pillage, their declaration, " We 

 have eaten salt in such a tent," is a passport that 

 ensures them a safe journey. 



The Arabs are the most adroit and audacious 

 thieves in the world ; their address, indeed, in this 

 art is proverbial. They spring behind the horseman, 

 seize him with one hand by the throat and with the 

 other rifle him of his money. They stole the swords 

 from the sides of the French officers in Egypt, and 

 even purloined clothes and valuable articles from un- 

 der their heads while sleeping. These acts of rapa- 

 city they always palliate by using a softened and deli- 

 cate language when relating them. Instead of saying, 

 I robbed a man of this or that article, they say, 

 " I gained it." They even pretend a sort of kin- 

 dred or relationship between themselves and the 

 victim they plunder. " Undress thyself," exclaims 

 the brigand of the desert, as he rides furiously upon 

 the wayfaring stranger; " thy aunt (meaning his 



