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has a watch about him, an article of personal usefulness and
adornment which encites this envy, and of which they occasion-
ally buy when they have the opportunity, it did not much sur-
prise us that he desired to examine our time pieces. It so
happened though that neither of us had a watch about him,
I having left mine in Alexandria, and Hambro perhaps having
been cured of all illusions as to the necessity of having one always
in his fob pocket. The situation was awkward, as to be without
such a necessity, as the Musulman understood us, would be to
admit that we were not the distinguished visitors which Ab-
dallah intended to represent us as being, but we were soon
relieved of further questions on the subject by the arrival of
Abdel Kader himself.

He proved to be a tall imposing man, of erect carriage, with
flowing robes, in the old style of eastern dress, and with a
large turban, part of which was green in color. This indica-
ted in his case that he was related in some way to the descen-
dents of Mahomet, and the extreme deference with which
he was approached by the numerous visitors who came in
while we were there showed that he was either regarded
as a very princely or a very saintly person - probably both.
His manner was somewhat hurried as he entered the room
and he first greeted his friend whom we met there. He then
turned to us and received our salutations in a gracious and
dignified manner, although I am unable to recollect whether
we shook hands. Having come simply to gratify our curiosity
there was nothing more for us to say after the dragoman had
told him who we were, and that our visit to Damascus would be
incomplete unless we feasted our eyes upon his august presence.
Abdallah though continued to talk to him in Arabic most volubly,
and several times he turned to us and smiled approval
with several nods of the head. This was in consequence as we
afterwards found out of all the flattering things the dragoman was saying
about us.

The divan upon which Ab-del - Kader sat was wide and
elevated, occupying the entire side of the room, and he alone
was on it: His visitors as they approached him would bend
over and touch the edge with the forehead, a proceeding
which he was evidently accustomed to. His dress was of costly
and showy materials, and especially in the turban could the
quality be appreciated. After a quarter of an hour’s stay
we left, and he gave us several pleasant and approving
nods as we parted. I was very much gratified at having seen the great
man so close, but Hambro not so much so. If he had been
some Indian nabob who had resisted for years the gradual
conquest of his country by the British H would have known
more about him, but he was not so well informed about the
French and those with whom they contended in Algeria.

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