206 CUSTOMS AND MANNERS in this manner are less esteemed. Their evening amusements consist in dancing and music, vocal and instrumental. Generally, throughout all the Arab provinces, but particularly in Suse, among the Mograffra Arabs, the Woled Abbusebah,and WoledDeleim, the whole country is in a blaze of light of a summer's evening ; music, dancing, and rejoicing, is heard in every direction. Their music consists of a kettle-drum, a flute or reed, similar to what Homer describes as the instrument of the ancient shepherds, a rhabeb or two-stringed fiddle, played with a semicircular bow, a tamboureen, and brass castanets. They play in precise time ; and the ladies arrange themselves at the entrance of the sheik's tent. It is pleasant to observe the beauty of their fine-formed feet, uninjured by tight shoes, and free from corns and all excrescences. They dance some dances barefooted, making very short steps, scarcely raising the foot from the ground, in a peculiar manner. They have elegant and circular ancles ; and their light motions fascinate the eyes of the spectators and the admiring strangers, who occasionally exclaim, {Allah ehrduh alikume ia Elarh) ** the protection of God be upon you, O Arabs !" (makine fal Elarb, " there are none comparable to the Arabs !" They have a very elegant shawldance : in the management of the shawl they display singular grace, and practise elegant figures, sometimes concealing their faces, some-