Page 233 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

214 COAST OF ARABIA. [CH.

at length exclaimed an old seer, with uplifted
hands, who had not before spoken ; “ wonder­
ful ! These Infidels are doomed to eternal
perdition, and with becoming modesty, they
shroud their eyes from the looks of the Al­
mighty, nor will they lift them upwards, lest
they should profanely encounter his gaze.”
How forcibly, as I cast my eyes around on

the assembled group, was I impressed with
the uualterable picture it presented of Ish-
malite manners. It was nearly sunset: under
the guidance of young boys, sheep, asses, and
other cattle were approaching the encamp­
I
ment from afar; maidens were hastening to
milk them. The more aged females prepared
the evening meal, consisting of huge heaps of
rice, piled upon circular wooden bowls, and
deluged with butter; while the young and old
men at their devotions, bowed prostrate in the
sand, their unsheathed swords ever ready and

planted before them, The murmur of their
prayers mingles with the bellowing of camels,
the bleating of sheep and goats, and the deep
bark of the shepherd-dog; altogether it is
a busy scene, and the more interesting, that
it requires little aid from the fancy to trans-