what little he possesses he is ever ready to divide- he has even the delicacy not to wait till he is asked—when he takes his repast, he affects to seat himself at the door of his tent, in order to invite the passengers! his generosity is so sincere, that he does not look on it as a merit, but merely a duty, and he therefore readily takes the same liberty with others.

The unqualified liberty enjoyed by the Bedoweens extends even to matters of religion. It is true, that on the frontiers of the Turks they preserve, from policy, the appearance of Mahometanism; but so relaxed is their observance of its ceremonies, and so little fervor has their devotions, that they are generally considered as infidels, who have neither law nor prophets. They even make no difficulty in saying, that the religion of Mahomet was not made for them—“For (add they) how shall we make ablutions, who have no water? How can we bestow alms who are not rich? Why should we fast in the Ramadan, since the whole year, with us is one continual fast? And what necessity is there for us to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, if God be present every where.