122 
THE ARABIANS. 
Arabians, they therefore acquire habits of seriousness from a very 
early age. But they do not dislike society ; the coffee-houses are much 
frequented, and they delight in acute and pointed discourse. They 
are not quarrelsome, though noisy in their disputes. They have not 
so many terms of abuse as most European nations. 
Hospitality is prescribed by the Koran; the traveller is peculiarly 
the object of the charitable, and the good effects of this benevolent 
precept are felt in Arabia, as well as other Mahometan countries. 
Fountains and caravanseras are as common in Yemen as in other 
parts of Asia; and though nothing but house-room is provided by the 
one, or water by the other, the abstemiousness and simple habits of 
the Arabians render every thing beyond that superfluous. The heroes 
of all their romances are celebrated for their liberality as well as 
their bravery, and those virtues were fostered by the doctrines of 
Mahomet. His uncle Abdallah was one of the three, concerning whom 
some Arabs had been disputing the point of liberality ; when each 
determined lO go to the one whom he preferred, to ask his assistance. 
Abdallah was just mounting his camel for a long journey: “ Son of 
the uncle of the Apostle of God,” said the man who wished to try 
his liberality, “ I am a traveller in distress.” Abdallah, immediately 
alighting, gave him the camel with all her trappings, only requiring 
him not to dispose of a sword, slung from the saddle, because it had 
belonged to Ali. The camel carried, besides robes of silk, 4000 pieces 
of gold, but the sword was still more valuable. — The second of the 
disputants went to Kais, the next of the three about whom they had 
been debating, and learned from a servant that his master was asleep; 
“ Take, however,” said he, “ these 7000 pieces of gold ; it is all 
we have in the house, and shew this token to my master’s camel-driver ; 
he will provide you with a camel and a slave for your journey home.” — 
Arabah, the third of these generous men, was leaning on two slaves, 
for his eye-sight failed him, and on his way to the mosque, when he 
met the man who wished to put his liberality to the test. No sooner 
had he heard the request, than, clapping his hands together, and la- 
menting his misfortune in having no money, he desired him to take 
the two slaves ; which the other refused, till Arabah declared that he 
would liberate them if he did not, and, dismissing his slaves, went 
onward, feeling his way by the wall. The palm for liberality was 
given, as may be supposed, in favour of Arabah. (Sale’s Prelira. Disc 
to Koran, p. 29.) ~ 
The Arabs are extremely courteous ; inferiors in rank or age always 
kiss, or attempt to kiss, the hand of iheir superiors. Equals embrace 
each other, putting cheek to cheek. They use, when addressing Mus- 
sulmans, the common salutation, Es-salam Alei-kum which properly 
signifies, “ God save you !” and that explains why Mahometans are 
unwilling to give it to Christians ; the latter also dislike to use it, as 
being connected with the faith of Mahomet. They have a great deal 
of etiquette in the form of their visits, and it appears from Niebuhr’s 
plate of his audience at Sanaa, that subjects are not allowed to sit 
down in presence of the imam. They sit cross-legged, as most of the 
other Asiatics do ; and inferiors may be said to sit upon their heels 
when in the presence of their superiors, a most uncomfortable posture. 
