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go always armed. The arms that are most common are, 
the large curved knife, halbert, lance, mace, and some 
few guns. The knives have sheaths of a most singular 
form; for, independent of the space occupied by the 
blade, it is prolonged about a foot, in a semicircular 
form, and terminated by a ball, or some -other orna- 
ment, more or less carved. It is hung obliquely before 
the body, the handle towards the left side, with the 
point upwards; so that the movement of the right arm 
is greatly impeded by this position, which is maintain- 
ed by force of custom. So true is it, that men of all 
ranks and countries are subject to the caprices of 
fashion. 
The halberts are composed of a stick,Aom four 
feet and a half to five feet long, armed at thetop with 
an iron point, and very commonly with a smaller one 
at the bottom. The upper one is always more than a 
foot long, and is differently formed; sometimes broad 
and narrow; at others, like a lance or bayonet, &c. 
The handles are often ornamented with small nails and 
rings of brass, from top to bottom. 
The mace is formed of a stick two feet long, and 
about fifteen lines in diameter, terminated by a ball or 
globe of the same wood, about thirty lines in diameter. 
Some maces are of iron. 
Of the guns there are but few, and the greater part 
heavy matchlocks, rudely formed. There are some, 
however, that are well made, and very elegant. I have 
one inlaid with ivory, which cost 120 francs. 
Some Arabs carry axes, nearly two feet long; and 
others go armed with a stick, five feet long and two 
inches thick, with an iron point at the bottom of it. 
The horsemen carry a lance ten feet and a half long, 
ornamented with a tuft of black feathers at the jointing 
