'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎554] (645/905)

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BEDAWiN AND FELAHS.
[CHAP. XXI.
The limited furniture of a Turkish dwelling has already
been described, 1 and the travelling equipments of a Turk are also
simple: they consist of a tent of small size, a carpet, a mattress,
a coverlet, and a cloak ; whilst the culinary articles are limited
to a couple of saucepans, one within the other, a couple of
dishes, and as many plates arranged in the same manner, with
a round leathern table. His provision is a bag of oil or
butter, some salt, pepper, rice, dried raisins, cheese, dates, and
a stock of coffee-berries; to which are added a complete appa
ratus for making coffee, which, with the cups, are carried in a
light case; also a* tinder-box and a pipe, the most indispen
sable item of the whole. The last occupies the time whilst
coffee is in preparation, during a noon-day halt, and while the
pilau is being prepared in the khan or encampment for the
night: when enjoying his pipe and his coffee, the Turk seems
to have every thing that he desires.
Independently of the artisans and the trading inhabitants
of the towns, the people of Syria are either nomadic or agri
cultural, or such as partake of both denominations; and some
of these last are to be found in almost every part of the terri
tory. The first are the Bedawins, who move with their flocks
from one pasture ground to another; they are under the
patriarchal government of a chief, who acknowledges, but
scarcely obeys, the authority of the Sultan, as exercised by his
Pashas. The third are such as the sedentary Arabs and some
few Kurds and Turkomans, who, being partially cultivators, are
necessarily subject to the local authorities at one period of the
year; but becoming nomadic at another period, they then pay
no tribute.
The second are the Felahs, who are purely agriculturists;
they comprise the bulk of the Christians, Druses, Osmanlis,
and other inhabitants, and are amenable to the laws of the
country; which, however despotic in theory, are really mild
in operation. It is true that the power of the Sultan is dele
gated almost unconditionally to the four great Pashas, and
again downward from them to the Mutesellim, the Ay an, the
Agha, and even the humble Sheikh-el-Belad ; each of whom is
1 See above, pp. 366, 361.