390 



THE ARAB. 



They again perform ablution and devotions, after 

 winch they dress for out-of-door business and 

 for home visits. The evening prayers are generally 

 recited in public. Some eat the Isha-supper 

 before sunset ; usually it is deferred till after 

 worship. The chmate effectively prevents those 

 last pleasant rambles by moonlight and open air 

 seances — the Makamat so much enjoyed in the 

 hot-dry sub-tropical regions. Here the evening 

 is spent sometimes in society, oftener in the 

 harem, and all apply to sleep between 10 p.m. and 

 midnight. 



The yearly fast begins with the new moon of 

 Ramazan ; crowds assemble in the open places and 

 upon the terrace roofs till the popping of pistols 

 and matchlocks and salvos from the squadron 

 warn the faithful that the crescent has appeared. 

 In the days of Sayyid Said the strict Arab salute 

 of three guns (our 21) was kept up ; five denoted 

 a victory, and seven the decease of some eminent 

 person. Arabs observe the dietetic law strictly ; 

 then women are expected to fast, and boys of 13 

 and 14 take a pride in imitating their parents. 

 Many, especially those with weak digestion, 

 cannot eat the dawn meal general throughout 

 Egypt, Syria, and Persia. The Shafei ordeal ends 

 when the sun has wholly sunk below the horizon ; 



