232 MUHAMEDAN divided, two of the guests take hold of it, and pull it till it is divided. This is somewhat repugnant to an European's ideas of delicacy ; but if we consider that the hands are previously washed, and that they never come in contact with the mouth in decent or respectable society, there is not so insuperable an objection to this way of eating as might otherwise appear. Each person in eating the granulated flour or cuscasoe, puts his two fore-fingers into the dish before him, and by a dextrous turn of the hand converts the quantity taken up into the form of a ball, which he, with a peculiar dexterity, jirks into the mouth. The Africans never drink till they have done eating j when dinner is over, a large goblet, or poculum amicitice, of pure water is passed round, and each person drinks copiously ; the washing is then repeated, and the repast is terminated. Afterwards coffee is introduced, without milk : the cup is not placed in a saucer, nor do they hand you a spoon, for the sugar is mixed in the coffee-pot ; the cup is presented in n outer cup of brass, which preserves the fingers from being burned. They use no bells in their tents ; but the slaves or servants are called by the master when wanted, one generally standing in the corner of the tent to superintend the others. The pipe is sometimes introduced after the coffee, but this is by no means a general custom, except among the negroes. The pipe is of rose-wood, of jasmin, or of rhododendrum wood : great quantities of the latter are con-