natives' admiration of self. 69 each other at the points. It is a pity that the hide is completely severed across at the throat, to let out the blood ; the custom of the Mussulmen in killing all beasts and birds, for so it is ordered in the Koran— the beast must be living, and the flesh (debieg — with the Jews, Koscher) quivering, when this cut is made. In general, a Mussulman, immediately after firing at any animal, exclaims, " Bismillah ! " to propitiate Allah, as the chase is strictly forbidden by the Prophet, save under peculiar circumstances.

To tempt into the camp the Arabs round, not one of whom is hardly ever seen inside our fence, the merchants accompanying the army have been permitted to form a bazaar outside the palisades, and there by day expose their wares for sale. The most favourite articles for sale are small mirrors or looking-glasses (Marrai, or Mirroa, from the French, Miroir) ; these are offered cheap, and must be highly pleasing to the Arabs here, as they will sit the whole day gazing into them, and even the eldest among them seem never to weary of this unrelaxing admiration of their own reflections. As a variety, every now and then a camel, horse, or ass of ours is carried off by these gentry. Not very long ago a Soggilab stole a horse of one of the Schaigies, and bringing him up close to the camp, killed the beast with many stabs of his knife ; thus displaying the deep innate hatred of these people to their oppressors. And this would be most assuredly proved to us in a very difierent manner, were it not that the Pascha has concentrated so large a force as to overawe them ; and so many being armed with firearms, of which the natives' dread is almost childish. Even at present they show how deep their hate is, by not one ever bringing us the smallest article for sale, flesli, milk, honey, &c. — we can get none, no, not by an ofier of ten times its value. Then, from their repeated refusals of money, it seems probable, all trade among themselves is by barter ; coin they certainly have none. How under sucli circumstances the Pascha will get in the tribute, and in tlio short space of thirty days, is to us incomprehensible. It is true, that at a village some hours' journey from hence, the present abode of ]\Iohammed Din, a considerable number of cattle have been collected ; but it is equally certain that fjir greater numbers are held in concealment, and in this way the tithe of both beasts and goods will be much reduced. That the r 3