TRAVELS IN THE SAHARA. 
283 
quite crusted over with verdigrise, the virulence 
of which is probably diminished by the quantity 
of milk they use. When they reside long in one 
place, they sometimes plow the spots which are 
moistened by the rain, and sprinkle them with 
seed in a careless manner. Plentiful crops are of- 
ten thus produced ; but, instead of waiting till the 
grain attains maturity, they cut it down, and dry 
it over hot cinders. Treachery and perfidy are 
the innate vices of the Arabs ; assassinations are 
frequent ; no man trusts the promise of another ; 
no man makes a written agreement, as the poignard 
cancels all bonds and obligations. The men often 
relate their exploits to each other ; the embellish- 
ing of a story is succeeded by a charge of false- 
hood, and the poignard solves every difficulty. 
The ancient rites of hospitality, however, are prac- 
tised among these tribes, in their utmost extent. 
The Arab, who, in the field, is a rapacious plun- 
derer, becomes liberal and generous as soon as he 
enters his tent. War is only a species of rapine, 
and the victory is decided at the first shock. The 
Arab is devoid of sanguinary courage ; he attacks 
only to plunder, and never thinks that booty is to 
be put in competition with his life. When the 
battle is ended, each party makes graves for the 
slain, and enclose the tombs with mounds of stones. 
The ages of the warriors are denoted ; by the space 
of ground which the grave occupies, and the fn- 
