ï 74 1 ravels into the Levant Part ï 
entreat the Sck/^ c/ À'f^iV to approve of their Eledion. It is the fame thing 
in the Eledion of thQScheik_el Kcbir, only it is made in an AiTembly of the 
whole Tribe. The Balhas commonly give fome pay to the Schet^ el Kcbtr of 
the Tribes that are fcattered in their Governments, being very unwilling to 
have any quarrel with them ; and the Caravans alfo allow him a fum ct Mo- 
ney yearly, that they may fafely pafs without Moleflation ; to the other Scheiks 
they give Provifions, Money ,Vefts, and Cloth for Shirts,in certain proporiions, 
and thefe Blades think themfelves in theirTents happier than l\mgs.Snkan Amiirct 
heretofore would have confined them to live in Towns exempted from all 
Payments, but they v/ouldnot hear of it. They keep conflantly Spies abroad 
on all hands, to know if there be any Plots in hand againll them, and to be 
always ready to defend themfelves, or flie farther off ; and certainly there is no 
great hurt to be done unto them in thofe Defarts, for feeing there are no High- 
ways in them, an Enemy would fbon lofe themfelves. Befides that, they mull 
carry with them Provifions for all the time they muft be there, for nothing is 
to be found in thofe places, nay, they would foon die of thirft too -, for 
though there ht feveral Wells on all hands, yet none but the Arà)s know where 
they are. The Arms of the -^r^l^j are Lances, or Half- pikes, Swords or Sha- 
bles, and long Daggers ; Fire-arms they have none, but are much afraid of 
them, and it is prohibited to fell them any, though indeed, they know not at 
all howtoufe them. Fori know a French Merchant, who one time meeting 
with Arabs-, they ftript him Itark naked, and before they left him, made' 
him flioot ofT his Fire-lock and Piftols , which they fuffered him to keep. 
They have alfo Bucklers, made of the Skin of a Fifli , called the Sea-man. 
Arabian They have pretty Horfes, that are fmall, but indefatigable, and run fo faft 
Horfes. ' that they feem to flie -, where they alight, they leave them without making 
them fafttoany thing, and thefe Horfes llir jidt from the place where they 
The food of have been left. And indeed, when they find them for their purpofe, they are 
Horfo? careful to feed them with Camels Milk, Butter, Camels flefli dried in the Sun, 
and Wheat, all which things make them very flrong. Thofe who have any* 
competent Eftate, keep a Camel to fave their Life in time of danger. They 
feed him from a Colt with Camels Milk, Butter, Camels fleîh dried in the Sun, 
and Wheat, and give him nothing elfe to eat, which makes them very ftrong 
and fwift, as well as their Horfes. The Arabs of different Tribes, are many 
times in Wars one v\?ith another, and thtScheik el iCfi^zV marches at the head 
of them. When one of them kills another in time of peace, if the Friends 
apprehend the Malefador, they carry him before the Schetk el Kebir, who 
condemns him to death, or to pay fo much to the Relations of the deceafed, 
according as they dcfire it j but commonly thofe of the fame Family, revenge 
the death of their Relation, and they are fo obllinate in their revenge, that 
they'll keep it an Hundred Years ; the Mother ever now and then, fhevving 
her Children the Bloody Shirt of their Father. When any one of them dies, 
he is buried in the fame place where he Expired, and fome Stones put upon his 
Grave. 
They told me a great many things more of their Cuftoms, as among others. 
If 2n Arab imrry 3l Maid, he kills a Camel or two, according as he is able to 
make a Feaft, and gives fo much to the Maid : If at any time after, a near Re- 
lation of the Maids ( who was abfent when the Wedding was made) happen 
, to come, and be difpleafed with the Marriage, he pays back the Husband what 
Money he gave to his Kinfwoman, the Camel which he killed, and breaks the 
Marriage, though the Maid be deflowred. Though thefe People be Mnful- 
mcins^ yet they make no other Prayers, than now and then to fay BifmilUh, 
that is to fay, in the Name of God. 
To conclude, they have a wonderful flight in flealing, and one of the Scheiks 
who went with me to Mount Smai^ told me, that if he pleafed, he could ia 
the Night-time, kill the Bey of Suez, in his Bed, in fpight of all his Guards, 
and though all his Doors were fhut. And a little before I came to Calre^ 
three Arabs contending together which of them was the nimbleft Rogue, one 
brag'dthat he could fteal all that was intheKitchin of theBafha^ the other 
thinking that to be but a fmall matter,faid that he would fteal the Bafha's Signet^ 
or Seal j and the third offered to do more than they both, faying^ he would 
kill 
