ARAB OrnCERS AND SOLDIERS. 163 Arab cannot exist without society ; he must, anrl will, chatter the whole clay, and hold long talks upon most trifling subjects. Give hiiu this, his pipe, and coffee, the Arab is happy and contented. One sees these people sitting for hours, nay lor the wiiole day, in a circle, and discussing matters eagerly, as if it were some important state affair, but if one inquires the subject discussed, perchance one had bought, for twenty paras, what another paid twentyone for. Anyplace does, too, for chattering in ; even in the mud, in the middle of the unpaved streets, they will gladly stand talking. The officer so completely associates with his inferiors, as to smoke out of the same pipe, and drink coffee with them, eats with them, when they have anything to eat, and plays with them at their games. From such constant and close intimacy, the soldier forgets, when in the ranks, that the officer is his superior, often does not obey him at all, and when he does, with much illwill. A long time will, therefore, be required, to bring Arab to proper subordination to Arab. The state, too, does not seem to see the necessity, that the under-officers should, by their dress, be in some degree distinguished from the privates ; these often go about worse and moi'e raggedly dressed than the latter ; and this has a very bad effect with the Arabs, who, like other mobs, only judge of persons by their exterior. The Arab greatly loves finery, but it matters little to him if some holes also ornament it, or if dust and dirt have made the original colours hardly recognisable. He sits and lies down carelessly, even when in his best, and cares little how dirty his seat is. The women act with little more sagacity, and in their best silken dresses will run about as though in their worst. Cleanliness, especially in their linen, they know as little of as the Turkish women, and under their picturesque and handsome outer garment, the silken shirt will often be found dirty and ragged, — an edifying sight for a European ! Then, the conduct of the higher officers towards their subordinates, is, by no means, such as to gain their respect. They treat them, when in the presence of the soldiers, as domestics, and apply the most vulgar terms to them; as, marras, besewink, kelb, cliomar, gansier (scoundrel, rascal, dog, ass, hog), &c. They dare not sit down in their houses, or in their presence ; no coffee is ever offered them, — nay, they N 3