ZOBIEDE ARABS. 
291 
village, bearing the proud appellation of Iskanderia, (Alexander,) 
present themselves to the eye; from dirt, fabrick, and dimen¬ 
sions, looking more like pig-styes than human habitations. The 
fragments of antiquity about, seem to connect with the name of 
the spot, and to say, that some considerable place once stood 
there; erected, probably, by or in honour of the hero. 
The present population of this part of the country consists of 
a race of Arabs called the tribe of Zobiede; but, from their 
situation, being much in contact with the Turks, they have lost 
their national character of independence, and acquired in its 
stead rather degrading than elevating habits. In times of tran¬ 
quillity from openly declared warfare, these people and their 
chief are responsible to the government of the Pasha for the 
general security of the road from casual depredators; but under 
the present circumstances, when their brethren of the desert 
issue forth in such formidable hordes, these poor creatures dare 
hardly show their heads. 
If I complained of want of cleanliness in the persons of the 
Persian lower orders, I have not terms to express the exceeding 
loathsomeness of the Arab Fellah. The skins of these people 
are actually ingrained with dirt; and the male children, addition¬ 
ally embrowned by the roasting sun, run about till thirteen or 
fourteen years of age, without the shadow of a garment. The 
mothers answer pretty well to the description I have already 
given of the lowest class in Bagdad. The only difference appears 
to be, that here their shift-like gowns are always of a coarse red 
flannel, open a good way down in front, buttoned at the neck, 
and touching the ankles and wrists ; both of which extremities 
are usually adorned with massive silver rings. Strings of many- 
coloured beads hang on their tattooed necks, sometimes en- 
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