Page:The Burton Holmes lectures; (IA burtonholmeslect04holm).pdf/224

 vast majority of the Prophet's followers. It is a strange fact that many of these people are utterly unable to distinguish anything in a photograph or drawing. Mohammed having prohibited the reproduction of the human form, the Arab eye, deprived of any hereditary training, makes out nothing in a design or picture that is not colored. A Frenchman tells us that on one occasion he showed a picture of two little babies to an Arab. The latter holding it upside-down and thinking it must be a portrait of the Frenchman's wife, remarked, "She is indeed a beautiful woman!"

TWO GENTLEMEN OF TOUGGOURT

TWO SWELLS IN THE SUBURBS

On our return to town, as we pass a café, we are hailed by our fellow-traveler of the mail-wagon, Mr. Lakdar ben Mamar. He is calmly sipping his coffee, surrounded by a coterie of friends. Graciously he bids us join the party, at the same time commanding the servant to provide two more cups of the thick delicious Arab beverage. Some of his friends know a few words of French, and we are plied with