This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...scrupulous courtesy. I then rose and retired to my tent. On the following day one of his relations came to see me and ask pardon for the affront he had put on me. I persisted that it would be my duty to report it to the Government unless the Sheikh himself appeared and declared before a public assembly that he had been ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...scrupulous courtesy. I then rose and retired to my tent. On the following day one of his relations came to see me and ask pardon for the affront he had put on me. I persisted that it would be my duty to report it to the Government unless the Sheikh himself appeared and declared before a public assembly that he had been in the wrong, and asked pardon for his rudeness. This he ultimately agreed to, and carried out. To seal this act of reconciliation he then asked us to dinner, and on the evening of the same day a great feast was prepared, sufficient to feed the entire population of the town. In groups they sat about the place, and according to their rank sat near or far from the supper trays. It is the custom on these occasions for the host, in order to disarm suspicion, to taste the meat first, and with the customary tafaddalu, literally, " take advantage," then to invite his guests to follow his lead. On this present occasion, as the Sheikh had violated the rights of his guest, I had to replace him, and had to take on myself the post of the Sdhib el-Mahal, or the proprietor of the house. I therefore began, took a piece of bread, dipped it into the dish containing cooked mutton, rice, "freeky" (a mass of green and dried wheat), and vegetables, and, turning to the real host, asked him repeatedly to "take advantage." After much ceremony, during which endless polite phrases were exchanged, he, the Sheikh, finally took up his bread, and with a loud Bism Allah Rahmdn er Rahim, "in the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate," set the example, when hands and jaws began their duty among the rest of the assembly. After dinner we were gratified with some fine Mokha coffee which the Sheikh had himself brought home with him f...
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