MOCHA. 355 
strict regularity, yet I never heard of a vice, natural or unnatural, 
which they do not practise and avow ; and, though they pray at 
regulated times to the Deity, yet they also address their prayers to 
more saints than are to he found in the Romish calendar. Hypocrisy 
and deceit are so natural to them, that they prefer telling a lie, to 
speaking the truth, even when not urged to do so by any motive 
of interest. To this they are trained from their youth, and it forms 
a principal part of their education. As a government, they are 
extortioners and tyrants ; as traders, they are fraudulent and cor- 
rupt ; as individuals, they are sunk into the lowest state of igno- 
rance and debauchery ; and, in short, require to be civilised more 
than the inhabitants of the South Seas. 
The difference between this character of the Arabs, and that 
given by Mr. Niebuhr, may at first sight appear extraordinary ; but 
the difference is more in appearance than reality, as it is evident 
that he takes his opinion from the reception he had met with 
among the wandering tribes. He seems, however, to have imbibed 
a partiality for the nation in general, which the conduct of the 
Dola of Mocha, in particular, by no means justified ; and he has 
attributed virtues to them, which I cannot admit them to possess. 
Whatever his reception might have been among the tented tribes ; 
in Yemen, it was neither hospitable nor generous. Many, even in 
that country, are charitable, but it is an outward duty of religion ; 
and never extends beyond their own sect. I am perfectly ready 
to concur with him in his character of the wandering tribes, who, 
I believe, are less civilised, and have fewer vices. The virtue of 
hospitality, so necessary in the barren deserts which they occupy, 
is completely theirs ; and their bravery, and strict sense of honour, 
VOL. n. z z 
