travels

HOLY LAND, AND CYPRUS. 95intercQvirse, except in that district extending from Dukkeyto Deir, where the Nubian is lost, and Arabic prevailsagain: a curious circumstance; and, when considered withan observation of the lighter colour of this people, leadsto a belief of their being descended from Arabs. The Nubian,in speaking, gave me an idea of what I have heard ofthe clucking of Hottentots. It seems a succession of monosyllables,accompanied with a rise and fall of voice that isnot disagreeable.I saw few traces among them of government, or law, orreligion. They know no master, although the cashief claimsa nominal command of the country: it extends no fartherthan sending his soldiers to collect their tax, or rent, calledMirri.The Pasha of Egypt was named as sovereign in alltransactions from Cairo to Assuan.Here, and beyond, asfar as I went, the reigning Sultan Mahmood was consideredthe sovereign; though the cashief's was evidently the powerthey feared the most. They look for redress of injuries totheir own means of revenge, which, in cases of blood, extendsfrom one generation to another, till blood is repaidby blood. On this account, they are obliged to be ever onthe watch and armed; and, in this manner, even their dailylabours are carried on: the very boys go armed. They professto be followers of Mahomet, though I rarely happenedto observe any of their ritual obseryances of that religion;ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ ΒΙΒΛΙΟΘΗΚΗ