'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.' [‎673] (772/905)

CHAP. XXV.]
DWELLINGS OF THE ARABS.
673
suspended between the poles of a tent, or from a tripod stand is Butter,
made to swing from side to side, either by the hands alone, or
by means of a rope, until the butter is formed. When fresh it
is pretty good ; but when kept long it is scarcely more than
tolerable oil. All that portion which is not required for their
own consumption is sold or exchanged for wheat, barley,
clothes, and the other things required in an Arab family.
The buildings at the north-western extremity of the ter- Buildings on
ritory, both ancient and modern, have frequently been noticed; ^ternfrontier.
and the buildings at the western side 1 scarcely differ from those
on the eastern, or Mesopotamian side. The latter are of
rubble masonry, with terraced roofs; and usually contain
upper as well as lower apartments, which are generally of
small size, badly built and imperfectly lighted. But an infe
rior abode, a kind of hut, made of wattles or other light
materials, is occasionally constructed; this is sometimes a
mere cube, scarcely exceeding six feet on each side, at other
times it is round, and terminates with a dome which is covered
with cloth ; in each case the entrance is through a very low
door. The building is movable, so as to suit a people in a
half-nomadic state, and may be considered as having an inter
mediate place between stone houses and tents. The latter
differ from those of the Persians, Kurds, and Turkomans, 2
chiefly in being of a more portable construction. The shape Tents of the
is generally oval, and the material is of black goat's hair, Arabs-
mixed with that of the camel; this is usually supported by
two poles eight or ten feet high, which are placed along the
middle; but when the tent is more spacious, as is that of the
sheikh, shorter poles are placed at intervals, usually three
towards each side, and three in the middle. A low, movable
curtain, often of wool, closes the tent on the side exposed to
the sun or cold, according to the season, and another curtain
separates the men's apartment from that of the women ; the
former contains the packsaddles of the camels, against which
the men recline.
1 As described by Niehbuhr, vol. II., p. 229, of Heron's translation, and by
Mr. Cruttenden, I.N., Memoirs of the Royal Geo. Soc., vol. VIII., part 3.
2 See above, p. 243-368.
VOL. I. 4 R