436 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
ties; but fome of its oppreflive and defpotic laws continue 
unaltered. The exterior may be changed ; but the fubftance 
is identical. 
In the Eaft, they who are guilty of excefs in drinking bury 
their inebriation in the gloom of their clofet. By this, prefent 
difturbance, and future ill example are equally obviated, what- 
ever may be the ill confequence to the wretched vidim of 
intemperance. Of excefs in eating there are few examples ; 
for their longeft meals, even when a feries of difhes is prefented, 
as at the tables of a Paflia or a Bey, are terminated in a few 
minutes. The moderation and temperance of diet indeed 
throughout the Eaft are matters of high praife ; and, whether 
virtues of climate, habit, or refledion, merit imitation among 
ourfelves. The reward is prefent, uninterrupted health and 
tranquillity of mind. 
If the multitude of wants conftitute human inquietude, il! 
muft be remembered how much of what to us is indifpenfable 
is, to them, as if it had never been. 
With them fociety is rendered tranquil and eafy by mutual 
forbearance ; with us it is vexed with the neceflity of mutual 
adulation. — In the one region each man fets a fafhion to him- 
felf, in the other all the conftituent parts are wearied with 
ferving an idol that the colle£live body alone has fet up. Each 
ftands bareheaded from refped: to the other, when both might 
remain covered without inconvenience to either. 
Politenefs 
