Page 91 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

72 SHE KM TO SINAI. [CH.

with sand. In about half an hour the sand is

removed, and the meat turns out better cooked
than persons accustomed only to the ordinary
culinary process would expect. But the way
in which they dress and eat the offal of the
animals they kill furnishes a still more unfa­
vourable specimen of Bedowin habits. The
entrails, with no other cleansing than being
drawn through the fingers, and the head and
feet only partially divested of the hair, are
placed in a pan over the fire. In a few mi­
nutes it is withdrawn, the dirty water thrown
away, some fresh added, and the whole, being
again boiled, is eaten without farther prepara­

tion. I have sometimes observed our guides
break in pieces the biscuits they had received
from the seamen, and, after pouring a quan­
tity of rancid butter over them, stir the mess
with their fingers over the fire, until well
warmed and soaked, and then devour it with
much relish.

Near the encampment we observed several
antelopes. The Bedowins are very fond of
their flesh, which they prefer to mutton. Beef,
unless to those who have visited Cairo, is
unknown. I do not think there exists a bul-