that He hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock 
shall draw them out: surely He shall make their habitations desolate with them. The 
earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the 
Red Sea. Behold, He shall come up as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah.” 1 
1 Jeremiah, xlix. 20-22. 
CONFERENCE OF ARABS. 
The Engraving gives a conception of the manner in which the more serious affairs 
of the natives are conducted. A party of the Fellaheen Arabs had come armed, 
to demand their share of the piastres which had been paid by the Artist and his 
fellow-travellers for protection; a violent altercation ensued, and 150 piastres were 
obtained from their former extortioner, “ old Abed, who pulled the money from his 
bosom, and dashing it on the ground, cursed them and their fathers to the lowest 
depths of Jehennem,” (Gehenna). 1 
To this succeeded a scene curiously contrasted in its quiet and formality. One 
of the Fellaheen was charged with having stolen an ass, and the three sheiks were 
called on to give judgment in the case. The whole party now seated themselves 
on the ground, and old Abed, who had just divided spoil with such angry reluctance, 
“opened the court” with great gravity, by reciting a part of the introductory chapter 
of the Koran, and what seemed some of the Bedouin laws; all which was listened to in 
silence and with great attention. While speaking, he held a drawn sword in his hand. 
When he concluded, the sword was taken up by another speaker, and another, and so 
on, none attempting to interrupt the holder of the sword. When the decision was 
given, the Fellaheen suddenly and quietly disappeared among the rocks. 
1 Kinnear, Cairo and Petra. Roberts’s Journal. 
