TRIPOLY TO BENGAZI. 
•207 
displayed all the logic contained in its rich folds, they had not a 
word more left to say on the subject, but consented immediately 
to receive it in pawn, and to abide by whatever he should decide. 
It is scarcely possible for those who have had no dealings with 
Arabs, to imagine all the trouble and exertions which they will give 
themselves in getting up a performance of this nature ; the whole 
piece too is in general so naturally acted, that if the spectators had 
no cause for suspicion, they would seldom perceive that the acting 
was overdone, which is almost invariably the case in some part or 
other of the play. We had been much accustomed to scenes of the 
kind, but till the time when the Dubbah began to interfere, we 
never suspected that the parties were not in earnest, although it was 
clear that they acted in concert. The good-humour with which an 
Arab will bear his disappointment, when nothing after all is gained 
by his stratagem, is another very prominent feature in his character. 
He never appears to regret the trouble he has taken ; though it may 
have cost him whole days to plan his manoeuvre, and a great deal of 
personal exertion to put it in execution. He bears no ill will to the 
persons who may have detected him ; but will relate the whole thing 
as an excellent plot, immediately after its failure, and commend the 
penetration of those who have baffled his best efforts to deceive 
them. 
It was not worth our while to undeceive the old Shekh, by letting 
him know that we saw through the whole of this manoeuvre, and he 
continued to give himself great credit for the mode in which he 
had terminated it ; he really believed that he had greatly ingratiated 
