376 



THE ARAB. 



deficiency of physical force, and they exaggerate 

 the flat-sided unconstmctive Arab skull — here an 

 Indian may almost always be recognized by the 

 comparative roundness of his calvaria. And as 

 the Zanzibar Arab is mostly of burgher race in his 

 own land, the forehead rarely displays that high 

 development of the perceptive organs which cha- 

 racterizes the Bedawin. 



The Arab noble is still, like those of Meccah in 

 Mohammed's day, a merchant, and here wealth has 

 done much to degenerate the breed, climate more, 

 and slavery most. The £ Calif ornian fever ' — in- 

 dolence — becomes endemic in the second genera- 

 tion, rendering the race hopeless, whilst industry 

 is supplied by the gross, transparent cunning of 

 the Wasawahili and of the African generally. 

 Honesty is all but unknown ; several European 

 merchants will not have an Arab's name in their 

 books. A Nakhoda (Captain, Maskat B.N.) in 

 the Prince's service, commissioned to bring a 

 watch or other valuables from Bombay, will delay 

 to deliver it until threatened with the bakur, and 

 the terrors of being blown from a gun do not de- 

 fend the ruler from the most shallow and impu- 

 dent frauds. Like their kinsmen of Oman, they 

 despise truth, without versatility enough to employ 

 it when required, and few rise to the height of 



