ETHNOLOGY OF TEE PRESENT DAY. 203 



mostly lead a roaming life, are divided into many tribes, each of which is 

 commanded by an Emir, and is again separated into families, with a Sheikh 

 at the head of each. They have no well defined laws, but follow only 

 their customs and usages. Their camels, their horses of the noblest breed, 

 and their cattle, the most important part of their property, constitute the 

 entire wealth of this people ; and the rearing of live stock, together with 

 hunting and robbery, affords their only means of support. The complexion 

 of the Bedouins is brown, but there are many women among them that 

 resemble Europeans in fairness, in consequence of little exposure to the 

 sun. In figure they are generally slender, and rather short. The hair is 

 curly ; the beard short and raven black ; the eyes are small and fiery. 

 Their dexterity, their activity and bodily strength, are oftentimes extra- 

 ordinary. They are excellent horsemen. Among them, love of liberty 

 and hospitality are associated with bravery, rapacity, and revenge. Cara- 

 vans and single travellers are unsparingly plundered. They fall upon the 

 former from different sides, like a swarm of bees, but seldom take life in 

 these attacks, and fl}^ if vigorous resistance is made. Every stranger, on 

 the other hand, be he Christian or Mohammedan, who comes into their 

 camp, which consists of a circle of tents, is received with the greatest 

 hospitalit}^ ; and without recompense they divide their all with him, and 

 protect him with property and life. Even travellers just plundered are 

 afterwards received in a friendly manner by their robbers, and obtain 

 presents from them. The weapons of the Bedouins are the sabre and 

 dagger, but chiefly a lance from ten to thirteen feet in length, having 

 a long triangular head. Sometimes they have javelins, clubs, pistols, and 

 rifles. The Emirs have but little authority over their subjects, and are 

 equally liable to the penalties of the wild custom of bloody revenge for 

 injuries which has prevailed from the remotest times. 



Two different kinds of tradesmen only are found among the Bedouins, 

 viz. weavers and farriers, the few household materials needed being made 

 by each person for himself It is a difficult matter to specify the individual 

 tribes. In the Arabian desert there are : Miseny, living poor and unknown 

 in the peninsula of Petrea ; Wuld-Ali, in Central and Northern Arabia ; 

 Beni-Klialed, Beni-Kiab, Beni-Lam, and Montesik. In the Mesopotamian 

 desert : Tai. In the Syrian : Mavali, Beni-Szaher, Pahely, Anasse, 

 and many others. Besides these, there are numerous tribes in North 

 Africa. 



PI. IS, Jigs. 11 and 12, Arabs of Gaza and its vicinity; Jig. 13, Arab 

 of rank, with the above described red hat, white and blue striped under 

 dress, nankeen cloth, red stockings, and yellow shoes ; Jig. 14, Ar^ab mer- 

 chant, with white under garment; white and red striped sash and turban ; 

 white and blue striped overcoat ; red stockings, and yellow shoes. Pig. 15, 

 Arab girl of the lower classes, with white and red striped gown, the arm 

 and bosom left bare ; a panther skin around the hips ; a white cap, orna- 

 mented with red riband ; the hair in long pendent plaits, and sandals on 

 the feet. Fig. 1, k, exhibits the head-dress of Arabs of the desert. PL 19, 

 Jig. 1, Assemblage of nomadic Arabs around their Sheikh ; Jig. 2, Encamp- 



315 



