They Procure Clothes, Drugs,
Utensils, &C. From The Sea-Ports Of Yemen, Where They Sell Dried Fruits,
Dates, Honey, Butter, Coffee-Beans, &C. With The Bedouins Of The Eastern
Plain They Exchange Durra For Cattle.
The Spanish dollar is current
among them; but in their markets all things are valued by measures of
corn.
The dress of these Bedouins generally consists in cotton stuffs
and leather.
Before the Wahabys taught them the true Mohammedan doctrines, they knew
nothing more of their religion than the creed, La Illaha ill' Allah, wa
Mohammed rasoul Allah, (There is no God but God, and Mohammed is the
prophet of God); nor did they ever perform the prescribed rites. The El
Merekede, a branch of the great Asyr tribe, indulged in an ancient
custom of their forefathers by assigning to the stranger, who alighted
at their tents or houses, some female of the family to be his companion
during the night, most commonly the host's own wife; but to this
barbarous system of hospitality young virgins were never sacrificed. If
the stranger rendered himself agreeable to his fair partner, he was
treated next morning with the utmost attention by his host, and
furnished, on parting, with provisions sufficient for the remainder of
his journey: but if, unfortunately, he did not please the lady, his
cloak was found next day to want a piece, cut off by her as a signal of
contempt. This circumstance being known, the unlucky traveller was
driven away with disgrace by all the women and children of the village
or encampment.
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Words from 170756 to 171015
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