⚫The most wealthy of the Arabs have generally three or more slaves, male and female, who are allowed to occupy a part of the tent of their masters or mistresses, and to sleep with them on the same mat. They are treated with respect, but are not permitted to marry or cohabit with the Arabian women--the business generally allotted them when encamped is to milk and fodder the camels, gather snails, fuel, &c. A slave, after having served his master faithfully for a considerable lapse of time, is presented with his freedom, and has permission to marry any free woman of his own color, and enjoys every privilege common with the Arabs, and if they prove active, are frequently appointed to the important office of leader of the band to which they are attached, which is the highest honor that can be conferred on them. The black slaves of the Arabs are naturally active and brave, and soon imbibe all the cunning and thievish habits of their masters. When caught in the act of pilfering, they are threatened with severe chastisement the next time detected, which they seldom fail to receive. The Arabs are very strict in their family government: the head or father is absolute chief, and his wives and daughters are considered as mere slaves, subject to his will or caprice--to every one he deals out his or her portion of milk or other food--each possess a large wooden bowl for this purpose, into which the milk, when taken from the camels, is emptied; when the milk is thus deposited, if in the opinion of the old Arab