CAMEL-DRIVERS. 325 enlivens the silence of the desert with wild songs of the joys of the paradise he hopes some day to enter. He is always ready to do all in his power to add to our comfort, and is especially particular in looking after the water intended for our own use.

The camel-drivers are Bishareen Arabs ; they are tall, handsome, well-built fellows, having good features, high foreheads, and pearly white teeth. Some root which they are constantly chewing gives the peculiar whiteness to the teeth. Their dress is simple in the extreme, consisting of a waist-cloth of white linen wound round the waist, one end being thrown over the shoulder and neatly draped. I saw one man who had evidently got the end of a piece of linen, for the maker's stamp and " British manufacture " were printed on it. Of this he was very proud, and displayed it to the best advantage, thinking, doubtless, that it was a great ornament.

Each man has a knife fastened above the left elbow, a small shield of hippopotamus hide, and a long, straight sword, which is only used for cutting. It is wonderful to see the dexterous way in which blows are parried by the shield. Two of these Arabs will fight for a considerable time without doing each other much harm, and men are seldom killed in their numerous hand-to-hand combats.

The sword and shield are carried slung over the left shoulder, and in the right hand each man carries a stick in a very jaunty manner. It is