356 MOCHA. 
elevate them far above their countrymen, who reside in cities. 
I should feel happy in supposing that this were owing to their 
blood being less contaminated by the mixture of slaves from 
every nation, a degradation from which they are preserved by 
their poverty ; a poverty, however, that is invaluable, as it secures 
their freedom. 
The Arab has essentially altered his conduct towards Christians, 
who may now walk about the streets of their towns without being 
liable to insult. The difiPerent events which have taken place 
in India, and have so conspicuously elevated the Cross above the 
Crescent, have struck a panic to the heart of the Mussulmaun 
throughout the east. It cannot be supposed that he has beheld the 
change without repining ; but it has forced upon his mind a con- 
viction of the superior power of the Christian, whom he hates 
as he ever did ; but now fears, instead of despising. The English 
have been the chief instruments in producing this change, and are 
therefore less popular in Arabia than their rivals, the French. 
Arabia was for a long time too remote from the scene of action to 
form any idea of the British power ; the veil was removed by the 
expedition to Egypt, when they were supported by the firmaun 
of the Grand Seignior, ordering them to destroy any of the ports 
in the Red Sea that did not afford them protection; and when it 
was evident that they had the power to put the order into ex- 
ecution. Still, the neglect, or timid caution of our officers, in sub- 
mitting to the insult of having their seamen stolen from them, and 
circumcised, in defiance of their remonstrances, prevented the 
Arabs from feeling our real power ; and this was heightened into 
. contempt, by the not resenting of the affronts which were heaped on 
