Page 234 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XI.] COAST OF ARABIA. 215

port us to the clays of the Patriarchs, when the
tents of Judah were spread over these plains,
and Moses here tended the flocks of Jethro.
A Bedowin now approaches ; — a female
going forth to meet him;—he asks for

water; “ O, stranger!” she replies, “our
encampment affords no water, but milk we
freely offer to you.” She then returns to
the tent, and, though it may deprive her
own family of their evening meal, again ap­
proaches, modestly holding up her loose
drapery to conceal her bosom with the one
hand, and gracefully presenting a bowl—“the
lordly dish”—to the traveller with the other.
He drinks; and with the characteristic and

appropriate phrase, “ May safety be with
you !” he returns the vessel to her, and re­

sumes his journey.
The revenue of Yembo’, like that of Jiddah,
arises exclusively from the customs, which
are nominally fixed at ten per cent.; but
great irregularities prevail in collecting them,
some articles being charged at a higher and
others at a lower rate. Merchandise im­
ported from Jiddah pays no duty, if a certi­
ficate be produced from the custom-master of