pt his place,
motionless, and without saying a word. But on receiving the salaam
of etiquette, the master of the house rises, and if a strict
Wahhabee, or at any rate desirous of seeming such, replies with
the full-length traditionary formula. "_W' 'aleykumu-s-salamu,
w'rahmat' Ullahi w'barakatuh_," which is, as every one knows, "And
with (or, on) you be peace, and the mercy of God, and his
blessings." But should he happen to be of anti-Wahhabee
tendencies the odds are that he will say "_Marhaba_," or "_Ahlan w'
sahlan_," _i.e._, "welcome" or "worthy, and pleasurable," or the
like; for of such phrases there is an infinite, but elegant
variety.

All present follow the example thus given, by rising and saluting.
The guest then goes up to the master of the house, who has also
made a step or two forwards, and places his open hand in the palm
of his host's, but without grasping or shaking, which would hardly
pass for decorous, and at the same time each repeats once more his
greeting, followed by the set phrases of polite enquiry, "How are
you?" "How goes the world with you?" and so forth, all in a tone of
great interest, and to be gone over three or four times, till one
or other has the discretion to say "_El hamdu l'illah_," "Praise
be to God", or, in equivalent value, "all right," and this is a
signal for a seasonable diversion to the ceremonious interrogatory.

The guest then, after a little contest of courtesy, takes his seat
in the honoured post by the fireplace, after an apologetical
salutation to the black slave on the one side, and to his nearest
neighbour on the other. The best cushions and newest looking
carpets have been of course prepared for his honoured weight. Shoes
or sandals, for in truth the latter alone are used in Arabia, are
slipped off on the sand just before reaching the carpet, and there
they remain on the floor close by. But the riding stick or wand,
the inseparable companion of every true Arab, whether Bedouin or
townsman, rich or poor, gentle or simple, is to be retained in the
hand, and will serve for playing with during the pauses of
conversation, like the fan of our great-grandmothers in their days
of conquest.

Without delay Soweylim begins his preparations for coffee. These
open by about five minutes of blowi