248 THE HOLY LAND. 
^-l:)^' in the open plain, or upon the mountains. The 
covering of their tents is made of goats' hair, 
woven by their women. Their mode of life 
very much resembles that of the gipsies in 
England; men, women, children, and cattle, all 
lodging together. In their disposition, although 
naturally grave and sedate, they are very 
amiable ; considering hospitality as a religious 
duty, and always acting with kindness to their 
slaves and inferiors'. There is, a dignity in 
their manner which is very striking ; and this 
perhaps is owing to their serious deportment, 
aided by the imposing aspect of their beards. 
Selfishness, the vice of civilized nations, seldom 
degrades an Arab ; and the politeness he prac- 
tises is well worthy of imitation. Drunkenness 
and gaming, the genuine offspring of selfishness, 
are unknown among them. If a stranger enter 
one of their tents, they all rise, give him the 
place of honour, and never sit until their 
guest is accommodated. They cannot endure 
seeing a person spit, because it is deemed a 
mark of contempt : for the same reason it is an 
(1) D'Arvieux, whose racy account of their manners and customs 
seems to have derived from the soil upon which it was written the 
truth and sincerity characteristic of the people, says, that " Scandal 
is unknown among them ; that they speak well of all the world j never 
contradicting any one." Ibid. p. 165. 
