— io6 — Nor should we omit to mention a generosity that so typifies the East and appeals to the imagination of its peoples. With princely, though not inelegant profusion, he lavishes his wealth on many who have no immediate call upon his good nature, or reasonable excuse for appealing to his charity. To rogues and relations, and they are often both, to the passer by in the street, or to the casual acquaintance, he seldom turns a deaf ear, whether it is the remission of a debt that is desired (i)or a donation from a purse that has now, unfortunately, ceased to overflow. (2) To (ew has it been given to experience so many favours or so great reversals at the hands of chanceful fortune ; yet, neither intoxicated by her smiles nor depressed by her frowns, he has kept throughout his life the balance of a well-ordered mind. Not overelated by a sudden bestowal of her favours, nor dejected by their withdrawal, he remains, at the end of his variegated career, a courteous and polite old Arab, whose quiet and gentle manners would earn for him, were it not somewhat banal, the title of a perfect gentleman.

(i) There was a man who owed Zubeir some E. 50 which he had no desire to pay. He accordingly, travelled from Omdurman to Cairo to lay his case before the Pasha. Zubeir not only remitted the debt, but entertained the debtor for a week, and paid his fare to and from Cairo.

(2) Zubeir never seems to have had the least idea of the value of money : a failing that has caused the Sudan Government no little trouble and inconvenience. Lord Ribblesdale notes the fact that he did not even trouble to bargain when purchasing a horse.