Their chief delight, and a considerable strengthener during their daily work, is song. They have certain simple melodies, which at a distance make an almost melancholy impression by reason of their great monotony; but near, they are hardly bearable, by reason of the pitiless duration of the yelling voices that often continue the same tune for hours together. Only the knowledge that by forbearance I assist so many in carrying half the burden of the day, and materially hasten their labours, has ever deterred me from meddling in this, though I am often driven from my tent in despair to seek rest for my ears in some distant sphere of activity. In the performance of the two-lined stanzas, the only change is, that the first line is sung by a single voice, the second by the whole chorus, while every fourth of a bar is marked by a clap of the hands, _e.g._ [Music: Solo Chorus 1. Om-mí be-tá-kul má-ku-lí U a-ná 2. Dill á-ss-arí mál u mál Bun-yál 3. Yâ-min sa-báh‘ ú le-bén U ] [Music: Solo bagh-bágh-tét ’a-léï (Dill) dill ebánne ú ’a-léï (Yâ-) sám-neh sâïh ’a-le-t &c. ] I.e. 1. My mother eats my dates And I,--I am angry. 2. The shadow of Asser[30] bows it and bows it. The wall (_bunyân_).... 3. Oh joy! when the morning milk And butter pours over me. _Makûl_, in the first line, is more properly only “food,” but it has generally become an expression for dates, as they are the principal food in the hut of the Fellah, and for some indeed is the only food. Another melody, a little more animated, is as follows:-- [Music: Solo Chorus Solo ] where the chorus exceptionally sings two notes and not one. But I hardly believe that even these chords are intentional; they run down without knowing it, for it often occurs that single voices sing the same note in different keys without in the least observing the continual discord. The power of joining voices together, in even the simplest harmony, seems to be wholly wanting in the Arab. The artistical music of the most celebrated singers and players, which inexpressibly delights even the most educated Mussulman, consists only of a hundred-wise screaming, restlessly-hurrying melody, the connecting idea of which is utterly untenable to an European ear.[31] And just as little are the musical instruments, when sounding together, used for any other harmonious variations than rhythm produces.