YUSEF DANCES THE HAAS. 
221 
The women had gradually uncovered their faces, and the 
men were in such a good humor that they paid no attention 
to it; and we were all as jovial as possible—showing that 
people all over the world are pretty much the same by na¬ 
ture, and that there are few races so barbarous as not to be 
moved by music and a spirit of sociability. I never found it 
to fail any where; and never knew an instance of any ad¬ 
vance being made in a hearty, off-hand way, where it was 
not returned even more cordially—from the fact, perhaps, 
that it is so rarely done by travelers. But my triumph was 
of short duration. Yusef became inspired by the bright eyes 
of the Arab damsels, and soon carried away all my laurels. 
Standing forth in the centre of the room, he addressed the 
audience in the most impressive manner—stating that with 
their permission he would perform the celebrated dance of 
his country, called the Haas, for which it was necessary that 
he should have a space cleared in the middle of the floor. 
This proposition was greeted by a general murmur of appro¬ 
bation. A space was soon cleared, the audience crowding 
back on top of each other against the walls, but all in the 
most perfect good-humor. Yusef now began to unwind him¬ 
self. He was in his choicest Arab costume, and fairly daz¬ 
zled with armor. His sash was almost interminable. Fran¬ 
cesco, the boy, pulled for five minutes, unwinding him all the 
time, as a spool of cotton on end might be unwound; and 
when the armor was all taken off and the sash at an end, 
Yusef called for his sword, and stood forth ready for the dance. 
Never was there such a sensation among the damsels of 
Baalbek. He was the very cut of an Arab beau, whose at¬ 
tractions and accomplishments were not to be resisted by 
vain and foolish woman. Poising his sword in the air, he 
called for music, and the music struck up—your humble 
servant being the musician. Whiz! went the sword through 
the air, cutting and slashing in all directions; up cuts and 
down thrusts within an inch of the retreating noses of the 
audience, who were now tumbled over in regular heaps. 
The women could scarce suppress their screams; the men 
cried Tahib ! Tahib ! and Yusef cut away in a perfect frenzy, 
