246 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



opened mouth. Sometimes they amuse themselves 

 by sending it through the nose : at other times 

 they take a full mouthful, and artfully blow it out 

 on the extended palm,, where it forms a spiral co- 

 lumn, which it takes a few instants to evaporate. 

 The glands are not pricked, and the throat and 

 breast are not parched by an incessant discharge of 

 saliva, with which the floors of our smokers are 

 inundated. They feel no inclination to spit, and 

 that affection, so customary with us, is, in the 

 East, considered as a piece of indecency in the 

 presence of persons entitled to superior respect ; 

 it is, in like manner, looked upon as highly un- 

 polite to wipe the nose while they are by. 



The Orientalists, who arc not under the neces- 

 sity of labouring, remain almost always in a sitting 

 posture, with their legs crossed under them ; they 

 never walk, unless they are obliged to do so ; and 

 do not stir from one place to another, without a par- 

 ticular object to put them in motion. If they have 

 an inclination to enjoy the coolness of an orchard 

 or the purling of a stream, the moment they reach 

 their mark they sit down. They have no idea of 

 taking the air, except on horseback, for they are 

 very fond of this exercise. It is a great curiosity to 

 observe their looks, as they contemplate an Euro- 

 pean walking backward and forward, in his cham- 

 ber, or in the open air, retreading continually the 



self- 



