288

SPEAR IN FRONT OF TENT.

in order on each side of the horse, with naked swords in their hands. The crier goes before, with a loud voice giving thanks for the proselyte that is made."-PITT's Account of the Religion and Manners of the Mohammedans. See HARMER'S Observations, ii. 305-397.

In the case of a general or any other high official engaged in active duty, honour was conferred upon him by erecting a spear either before his tent or close by his head. Thus it is related of Saul in 1 Sam. xxvi. 7:-" And, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the

trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster : but Abner and the people lay round about him."

Mr. Morier saw a Persian governor reposing himself

after the fatigue of a long journey; being extended under a shed fast asleep on the ground, with a spear stuck at his helmet head, which now, as in the days of Saul, marks the spot where a man of consequence reposes. MORIER's Second Journey through Persia, &c., p. 115.

It was also a mark of respect to a high dignitary to send repeated and honourable deputations: “ Balak sent yet again princes more and more honourable than they" (Num. xxii. 15). Morier relates that "when the English ambassador to Persia drew near Ispahan, he was met by the confidential officer of the governor of Ispahan, by a learned man of the city, and by several other men of respectability. These deputations are called openers of the way, and are one of the principal modes among the Persians of doing honour to their guests. The more distinguished the persons sent, and the greater the distance to which they go, so much more considerable is the honour. On the day of the entry of the embassy into Ispahan, it was first met by the youngest son of the second vizier of Persia, a boy of about thirteen years of age, who received the ambassador with all the ease of an old courtier, making the usual compliments of 'You are welcome: you have done us honour. Are your spirits good? how is your health? you have no ailing ?" Men of consequence in the city at different intervals presented themselves; and at length two of the brothers of the vizier paid their respects to the ambassador. At length the governor in person came out a mile from the city to meet him. This succession of personages, whose rank increased as we approached the city, may bring to mind the princes, more and more honourable,' which Balak sent to Balaam."-MORIER'S Second Journey through Persia, &c., pp. 127-129.

We may further notice the following tokens of respect. Young men rose up from their seats in the presence of their elders, and even old men paid the

U

290

COVERING THE FEET.

same compliment to a person of distinguished honour : "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man (Lev. xix. 32): “The young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged rose and stood up" (Job xxix. 8).

The right hand was regarded as the seat of honour, and was assigned to the guest of highest rank:-“The king (Solomon) sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand" (1 Kings ii. 19). In reference to this usage the Psalmist says: "Upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir" (Ps. xlv. 9). When sitting, it is decorous to have the feet concealed by the flowing garments, and it may be with reference to this that Isaiah, describing the seraphims and their six wings, says: -" with twain he covered his feet (Is. vi. 2).

"When a person sits down in the East," writes Sir J. Chardin, "it is a great mark of respect to conceal his feet, and to look down on the ground. When the sovereign shows himself in China and Japan, every one casts his looks on the earth, and no one is permitted to look on the king."-SIR JOHN CHARDIN.

In an account given by Doeff of an audience of the Ziogoon or Emperor of Japan, he writes:-"They conducted us to a waiting-room, where we sat down on the floor, in a slanting direction, and covered our feet with our cloaks; to show the feet being in Japan an act of gross rudeness."

EASTERN HOSPITALITY.-ABRAHAM'S AND LOT'S RECEPTION OF THE ANGELS.-JETHRO.-GIDEON.- ANECDOTES OF EASTERN HOSPITALITY.-PUBLIC PROVISIONS FOR GUESTS.-MODE OF RECEIVING GUESTS.-GIVING WATER.

HOSPITALITY, in a patriarchal state of society, ranks not simply as a matter of courtesy or good feeling, but as a high moral duty and a subject for legal enactment. This naturally follows from the isolation of tribes and families, and from the absence of the various appliances for intercommunication which are found in

292

HOSPITALITY TO TRAVELLERS.

settled and cultivated countries. Hospitality to passing strangers is a virtue that belongs to a rude state of society: elsewhere it does not exist because it is not needed.

Some of the most charming and characteristic pictures of patriarchal life are connected with the exercise of hospitality. Let us take as an example the narrative of Abraham's reception of the three angels recorded in Gen. xviii. 1-8 :- "And he (Abraham) sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat."

Let us take again the narrative of Lot's hospitality to the strangers as they entered the gate of Sodom :— "And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them, rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; and he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And