THE ARABIAN RACE. 



253 



the eating of camel-meat; and especially, in the universal diffusion of 

 education. 



The country immediately behind Mocha, is level, and on a general 

 view appears to be utterly desert. Here and there, however, I met 

 with small patches of cultivated soil, that are irrigated from wells ; a 

 discouraging task in such a burning climate. On inquiring as to the 

 safety of travelling, I was told, that " it would be better not to go far 

 from town, for being a stranger, if I should happen to be robbed, I 

 should be unable to tell by whom." I asked my informant, if he 

 would be willing to make the journey by land to Aden ? " Nothing 

 would induce him to go among people with whom he was unac- 

 quainted." I then asked, whether the people of Mocha would fight 

 for their governor? This question elicited surprise, and he rejoined: 

 " Why should we fight for the governor; who only taxes us?" 



The poverty and primitive manners of the people, rendered Mocha 

 one of the most interesting places I have ever visited. The continual 

 invocations, brought to mind the passage, "then began men to call 

 upon the name of the Lord." Indeed, a deep sense of the immediate 

 guardianship of the Deity, seemed at all times to pervade the commu- 

 nity. The religion, unlike what I have witnessed in other Muslim 

 countries, approached that of Abraham. Do you ever address prayers 

 to Mohammed ? " Mohammed was a man, we do not pray to a man." 

 It was well remarked by an eye-witness, that " this would be a beau- 

 tiful world, were Christians as observant of the precepts of their own 

 religion, as these poor Arabs are of theirs." 



The warehouse of the principal Arab merchant, presented some 

 striking analogies to the granary scenes of the Pharaonic monuments; 

 as well in the dress of the workmen, as in the large baskets made of 

 matting, which they carried upon one shoulder. On proposing to the 

 superintendent a slight change in the manipulation of some article, 

 he replied, " Must we learn something new ?" 



Checkered baskets, like those imported from Nubia into Egypt, 

 and which are represented on the Pharaonic monuments, are com- 

 mon in Southern Arabia; and are principally manufactured at Ma- 

 kulla. But flag-shaped fans, such as I had seen at the Cataract of 

 the Nile, are made in quantities at Mocha. 



In addition to the slight tattooing usual with Arab women, I ob- 

 served at Mocha ornamental markings with a black pigment; but 

 these occurred more especially upon children. Similar markings 

 with pigment, rather than true tattooing, have appeared to me to be 



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