Page 190 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

X.-] COAST OF ARABIA. 171

wear their hair close, in conformity to a cus­

tom established by their conquerors; but,
when the power of the latter became broken,
the Howeit&t returned to their ancient custom.
Shortly after our arrival we received a visit
from the superior Sheikh of this tribe, whose
name was ’Al&y&n. He appeared about fifty
years of age, of a spare but vigorous make, and
his manners were mild and placid. He spoke,
as do all the Bedowin chiefs in his pay, whom

we have met with, in high terms of Mohammed
’All; yet it is not difficult to perceive that
they and their followers would hail with satis­
faction the removal of the restrictions to their
former habits and pursuits, which the Pasha’s
success in Hejaz gave him the power to im­
pose, and which his address and talent have
enabled him to continue.
From the Sheikh we learned that camels

might be procured here to proceed on to Gaza
in four days, to Jerusalem in six, and to De-
rayah in nine. By the former of these routes
packets from India might be conveyed with
great facility to the shores of the Mediterra-
nean. After securing the interest of this
chief by means of a few presents, we were