'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎397] (428/582)

CHARACTER OF THE ARABS.
397
house of the Mutesellim for dukhiel, and have been received and
sheltered there ; so that a sort of account-current is kept between
the parties granting this protection ; and there is either a release of
individual for individual, like an exchange of prisoners in Europe,
or at the removal or change of the people in office, or the death
of the private citizens who may afford them such shelter, there is
a tacit act of grace, like a general jail-delivery.
An instance of Arab hospitality between avowed enemies?
which occurred in the neighbourhood of Bussorah, will show how
far habit and usage can conquer the feelings which are natural to
us. The Montefik Sheik Twiney, who possessed nearly the whole
of the country from Hillah to the sea, and Sheik Gathban, who
had the district of Chaub, both on the opposite banks of the Shat_
ul-Arab, were enemies to such a degree., and for so long a time,
that it became a proverb in Bussorah, when any one would express
the violent hatred of another, to say, 4 It was like the hatred of
Twiney to Gathban as if the feeling was thought to be hereditary
and inherent in the government of the provinces themselves. A
reverse of fortune dispossessed Twiney of his Sheikdom, when he
fled for refuge to the porch of his oldest enemy in the Chaub dis
trict. The Sheik Gathban, having heard of his flight, and receiv
ing news of his approach, rose and went out, attended by all his
principal dependents, to meet him. The interview was as that of
the oldest and most sincere friends. The fugitive Sheik was set
on the horse of his protector, and, being conducted to his resi
dence, was placed there in the seat of honour, when Gathban,
taking his ring and seal from off his finger, placed it on that of
Twiney, saying, 4 As long as you remain beneath my roof, you are
not only in perfect safety, but I constitute you, by this seal, the
Sheik of the Chaub, and woe be to him who spurns your autho
rity!' This chief remained some time in dukhiel with his enemy,
who, after the most strenuous efforts, at length effected an accom-
modation on his behalf with the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Bagdad, who had dis
possessed him ; and Twiney was again restored by the influence of