302 
ARAB CAMP. 
confidence ; and asked us a variety of questions bearing on the 
subjects, which told well for the soundness of his judgment. 
He particularly enquired, how we regulated our encampments; 
adding numerous interrogations concerning military discipline; 
and by the rejoinders to our answers, shewed that he not only 
understood what we meant, but intended, should he ever have 
the opportunity again, to apply the lesson. I had seen the 
same aptitude in Persia ; but so much the reverse amongst the 
Turks, that a word dropped there, which would have set the 
genius of Abbas Mirza in a blaze, or excited a hundred questions 
from the Courdish chief, would, in an Ottoman divan, not 
merely be left to die away of itself, but be extinguished with 
some supercilious look, if not expression of contempt, which 
seemed to say, “ We have arrived at the summit of perfection!” 
After coffee and pipes, we took our leave ; and then bent our 
steps to the lines of an old Arab skeik, called Mahmoud Bassam ; 
who, with his tribe, had adhered invariably, through all changes, 
to the pashalick of Bagdad. I had met this warrior also at 
the house of the British resident; and came, according to his 
repeated wish, to see him in a place more consonant with his 
habits, — the tented field ; and, as he expressed it, “ at the head 
of his children.” 
As soon as we arrived in sight of his camp, we were met by 
crowds of its inhabitants, who, with a wild and hurrying de¬ 
light, led us towards the tent of their chief. The venerable old 
man came forth to the door, attended by his subjects of all sizes 
and descriptions ; and greeted us with a countenance beaming 
kindness; while his words, which our interpreter explained, were 
demonstrative of patriarchal welcome. One of my Hindoo 
troopers spoke Arabic; hence the substance of our succeeding 
