late the tomb of their prophet. They
then enclose the tomb with great stones heaped upon one another, which
serve as a monument to these pillaging soldiers. The ages of their
warriors are distinguished by the space of ground which their coffin
occupies. The women, bathed in tears, come to throw themselves around
these mausoleums. Their gestures, wry faces, and harmonious sobs, form a
very ridiculous spectacle. A traveller should never pass before these
tombs, without depositing there his staff; and, after a short prayer, he
raises around the tomb heaps of stones, which are evidences of the vows
he has made for the repose of his soul.

After these funeral rites, cries of desolation resound through the
village. Every person mingles tears with those of the afflicted
relations. The tent of the deceased is conveyed to another place. All
his effects are exposed to the open air; and one of the fattest rams is
slain to comfort the relations and friends, who offer it to the deceased
in sacrifice. The repast being ended, they bury all differences. The day
after the battle, I have seen them pay visits to one another. He who has
dangerously wounded his neighbour the day before, goes to see him, and
converses with him on the dexterity with which he seized the favourable
moment to strike the blow. But what I consider as most extraordinary is,
that earth is their only cure for the deepest wounds. From whatever
place they take the earth, the effect is the same. In order to heal
their pains, they have recourse to another expedient, which however does
not always prove equally efficacious; that is, to apply red hot iron to
the part affected. Indeed, these Arabs are subject to few diseases. I
have seen many old people, of both sexes, who were oppressed with no
kind of infirmity. Sore eyes, and colics, are the most usual disorders
among them. Children, above all, are exposed to these, though in other
respects strong and robust. In the morning it is difficult for them to
open their eyelids. With regard to the colic, I think it is occasioned
by the verdigris which is mixed with every thing they eat or drink. The
reason of its not occasioning more sudden disasters, is, perhaps, the
large quantities of milk which they use. The kettles in which they cook
their victuals are not tinned; they never wash them, on account of the
scarcity of water; so that they remain covered with a crust of
verdigris, which they do not scrape away even when they scour