aside their upper garments to be light for the chase, and my companion, taking possession of these, as some compensation for the loss of his musket, we pursued our way, not even staying to see the result of the contest, as we were anxious to reach Assalt before the night closed in." BUCKINGHAM'S Travels among the Arab Tribes, p. 16.

JOHN, xix. 23.

The coat was without seam, woven "The dress of the Arabs,

from the top throughout.]

in this part of the Holy Land, and indeed throughout all Syria, is simple and uniform; it consists of a blue shirt, descending below the knees, the legs and feet being exposed, or the latter sometimes covered with the ancient cothornus, or buskin. A cloke is worn of very coarse and heavy camel's hair cloth, almost universally decorated with broad black and white stripes, passing vertically down the back; this is of one square piece, with holes for the arms; it has a seam down the back; made without this seam, it is considered of greater value. Here, then, we perhaps beheld the form and materials of our Saviour's garment, for which the soldiers cast lots, being without seam, woven from the top throughout. It was the most ancient dress of the inhabitants of this country." CLARKE's Travels, vol.ii. p. 425.

The coat of Jesus was probably like the upper garment or talar of the high priest described by JOSEPHUS (Antiq. b. iii. c. 7. §2.) which was woven in one piece, and had no opening either at the breast or sides, but only at the top to admit the head. The certainly curious and troublesome manner in which such a coat was woven has been described at length, and illustrated by copperplates by John Braun, in his Latin work on the dress of the Jewish priests. This writer also had a coat without a seam, woven by a weaver at Nimeguen, in 1676, according to his directions, on a loom made on purpose. He received also two shirts of the same description from the East Indies. Entire shirts and coats, with the sleeves and other parts woven in one piece, appear to have been formerly not unfrequent in the East,

An Arabian traveller of the ninth century of our era, whose account, together with that of another Arab, was published in French by RENAUDOT, (Anciennes Relations des Indes et de la Chine, Paris, 1718,) says, (p. 2.) that, "in the Maldive islands, there are skilful weavers, who manufacture whole shirts and narrow coats of the above description out of the fibres of the cocoa-tree." The same traveller (p. 21.) speaks of a country in India in which they have garments woven of cotton in a very peculiar manner, that are almost round, and so fine that they can be passed through a ring of moderate size. ACTS, xviii. 6. He shook his raiment.] shaking of his coat, a very common act in Turkey, is, no doubt, an act of the same kind and import as that of St. Paul, who, when the Jews opposed themselves and blasphemed, shook his raiment.' MORIER'S Second

Journey through Persia, p. 123.

"The

"Our Tchochodar Ibrahim, at sight of this people, immediately grasped his carbine, and shaking the hem of his pelisse, made signs to us to be upon our guard." CLARKE'S Travels, vol. iv. p. 36. This is a sign of

caution universal among the Turks.

"It is the custom

Acts, xix. 12. Handkerchiefs.] almost every where to carry a staff in their hand; the mode of wrought handkerchiefs is also general in Arabia, in Syria, in Palestine, and in all the Turkish empire. They are wrought with a needle; and it is the amusement of the fair sex there, as among us the making of tapestry and lace. The young women make them for their fathers, their brothers, and, by way of preparation before hand, for their spouses; bestowing them as favours on their lovers. They have them almost constantly in their hands in those warm countries, to wipe off sweat." Chardin, HARMER, vol. ii. p. 395.

"The principal dragoman belonging to the governor next presented to each of us an embroidered handkerchief; gifts, he said, by which infidels of rank were distinguished at their interviews with his master.

The

handkerchief consisted of embroidered muslin, and was enclosed in a piece of red crape.". CLARKE's Travels, vol. ii. p. 352.

Lady M. W. Montagu speaks of her being presented with embroidered handkerchiefs, by great Turkish ladies. There are few persons of any respectability in China, who do not always carry a beautiful handkerchief in their hands, or attached to their side by one of the corners, that it may be always in readiness. See also WALPOLE'S Memoirs of Turkey, vol. i. p. 391.

1 COR. xi. 14, 15. Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him; but if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her : for her hair is given her for a covering?] The Eastern ladies are remarkable for the length, and the great number of the tresses of their hair. The men there, on the contrary, wear very little hair on their heads. Lady M. W.MONTAGU thus speaks concerning the hair of the women. "Their hair hangs at full length behind, divided into tresses, braided with pearl or riband, which is always in great quantity. I never saw in my life so many fine heads of hair. In one lady's I have counted one hundred and ten of the tresses, all natural; but it must be owned that every kind of beauty is more common here than with us." Lett. vol. ii. p. 31.

The men, there, on the contrary, shave all the hair off their heads, excepting one lock; and those that wear their hair are thought effeminate. Both these particulars are mentioned by Chardin, who says, they are agreeable to the custom of the East: the men are shaved, the women nourish their hair with great fondness, which they lengthen, by tresses and tufts of silk, down to their heels. The young men who wear their hair in the East are looked upon as effeminate and infamous.

CHAP. VII.

PRESENTS AND VISITING.

if

GEN. Xxxiii. 10. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand.] It is the custom of the East, when one invites a superior, to make him a present after the repast, as an acknowledgment of his trouble. Frequently it is done before it, as it is no augmentation of honour to go to the house of an inferior. They make no presents to equals, or those who are below themselves. CHARDIN, MS. HARMER, vol. ii. p. 324.

2 SAM. ii. 8. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.] Any present immediately communicated from a royal personage was considered particularly valuable. Arrangements were now made for our introduction to the monarch immediately on his return, which he had fixed, as the viziers declared, for the thirteenth day of this month. Meanwhile he sent to the ambassador a very flattering khùsh-ámedy, or welcome, with some of the royal shikár, or game, three antelopes, and fifty kábks, or partridges, killed by his own hand: a circumstance which considerably enhanced the value of this present, and entitled the bearer to a recompense, not less than the wages of half a year." Sir WILLIAM OUSELEY'S Travels in the East, vol. iii. p. 116.

ESTHER, IX. 19. Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.] "We found the meat both savoury and tender, being part of the hump of a camel, which is considered the best: there was little fat, and the grain was remarkably coarse; however we made a hearty breakfast. The feast was conducted with much order and decorum; the sheikhs fed apart in a double row, with several immense platters placed at equal distances between them; and a rope line

I

was drawn round to keep the people from pressing in. Narsah was at the head of the row, with a small select circle, amongst whom we were called after we had breakfasted, he having perceived us amongst the spectators. When the sheikhs had finished, the people were regaled with the remains. Independent of which, portions were distributed to the different tents of the camp, which consisted of about two hundred: this latter arrangement was for the women and children. We believe that se veral camels were cooked, from the immense quantities of meat we saw." IRBY and MANGLES' Travels in

Egypt, &c. p. 265.

DAN. ii. 46. That they should offer an oblation, and sweet odours unto him.] To make a present of perfumes was deemed a mark of reverence and honour in the remotest times among the Orientals. Such an offering

was made to Daniel with a view to do him great honour. Thus HERODOTUS (b. iii. cap. 20.) also informs us, that the persons who were sent to Ethiopia by Cambyses 66 were commissioned to deliver with certain presents a particular message to the prince. The present consisted of a purple vest, a gold chain for the neck, bracelets, an alabaster box of perfumes, and a cask of palm wine." To sprinkle the apartments and persons of the guests with rosewater and other aromatics still continues in the East to be a mark of respectful attention. Matt. xxvi. 7. Mark, xiv. 3.

The emperor of China gave Master George Staunton, son of the secretary to Lord Macartney's embassy, his areca nut-purse from his girdle with his own hand.

The areca, or betel nut-tree, is one of the most beau→ tiful of the palmyra tribe: it grows perfectly straight, with an elegant tuft of plumy branches on its summit, overshadowing the blossoms and fruit which are interspersed among them. There is a peculiar delicacy in the proportion and foliage of this tree, which makes it generally admired: the Indians compare it to an elegantly formed and beautiful woman. There is the same allusion in Solomon's Song: How fair and how pleasant