486 



OUR BOAT. 



third was maimed and purblind, a fourth 

 was sick, and a fifth, the Chelebi (fop) of the 

 party, was a malingerer, who could do nothing 

 but shave, pluck his eyebrows, and contemplate 

 a flat face in the glass. The only man on board 

 was old R&shid, a scion of that Surf race, the 

 self-styled descendants of the Syrians, well-known 

 for beggary and niggardness, for kidnapping and 

 safe piracy. They are the most uncourteous of 

 the Arabs; and while ever demanding Hishmah 

 (respect) for themselves, they forget their own 

 proverb, 6 Politeness has two heads,' and they will 

 on no occasion accord it to others. B/ishid, how- 

 ever, proved a hero and a treasure, by the side of 

 our Nakhoda Hamid, a Sauclawi or melancholist 

 of the most approved type — never was brain of 

 goose or heart of hen-partridge hidden by brow 

 so broad and intellectual ; never did liver of 

 milk wear so Herculean a beard ! He squats upon 

 the deck screaming and abusing his men; now 

 silent and surly, then answering every question 

 with El 'ilm 'ind Allah (God knows!), and in 

 danger he weeps bitterly. With such fellows the 

 only system is to be as distant as possible : the 

 least familiarity ends badly ; they will hate you 

 more for one cross word than love you for a 

 thousand favours. The civility of a pipe or a 



