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THE ETHIOPIANS. An Ethiopian takes the robe of another, and ties it about his own waist, so that he leaves his friend half naked. This custom of undressing on these occasions takes other forms; sometimes men place themselves naked before the person whom they salute; it is to show their humility, and that they are unworthy of appearing in his presence. This was practised before Sir Joseph Banks, when he received the visit of two female Otaheitans. Their innocent simplicity no doubt did not appear immodest in the eyes of the virtuoso. Sometimes they only dress partially. The Japanese only take off a slipper; the people of Aracan, their sandals in the street, and their stockings in the house.

THE NEGRO.

The negroes are lovers of ludicrous actions, and make all their ceremonies farcical; the greater part pull their fingers till they crack. Snelgrove gives an odd representation of the embassy which the King of Dahomey sent to him. The ceremonies of salutation consisted in the most ridiculous contortions. When two negro monarchs visit, they embrace in snapping three times the middle finger.

A MAHOMMEDAN SALUTATION. “When ye are saluted with a salutation, salute the person with a better salutation, or at least return the same, for God taketh an account of all things.”— KORAN, chap. iv.

As when, says Sale in his translation, one salutes another by this form, “ Peace be unto thee,” he ought not only to return the salutation, but to add, “And the mercy of God, and his blessing.”

THE PERSIANS.

At an entertainment in Persia, the host goes a considerable distance to meet his guests, bids them welcome with the most respectful compliments, then returns hastily to the door of his own house, and waits their arrival to repeat the same demonstrations of respect.

The salutations in the East generally bear the stamp of a slavish mind. The very ancient custom of throwing oneself on the ground before persons of distinction, and repeatedly kissing their feet, has continued to the present time.

THE ARABIAN.

The greeting of the common Arabian is Salâm aleikum !_"Peace be with you!"-a salutation which

has been long in use among the Jews. At the same time, he places his left hand upon his breast, as a sign that this wish comes from the heart. The reply is, Aleikum essalåm !“With you be peace !"

Arabians of distinction embrace each other two os three times, kiss each other's cheeks, and inquire two or three times after each other's health ; at the same time each kisses his own hand. The Arabians of the desert shake hands six or eight times. In the province of Yemen, persons of distinction, after a long refusaly allow their fingers to be kissed.

THE MOORS.

The Moors, at their meetings, would kiss the right shoulders of one another; and, when they took leave for their departure, they would kiss each other's knee.

In Morocco, foreigners are saluted by the Moors on horseback in a manner which may well startle those not accustomed to it. The Moor rides full speed towards the stranger, as if to run him down; he then suddenly stops, and discharges his pistol over his head.

THE GREENLANDERS. The Greenlanders laugh when they see an European uncover his head and bend his body before him whom he calls his superior.

THE SIAMESE. In Siam, the inferior person throws himself on the ground before his superior. The latter then sends one of his attendants, who are very numerous in the case of persons of distinction, to examine whether he has eaten, or carries with him anything of an offensive smell. If this is the case, he receives a kick from the superior, and is compelled to retire immediately ; if otherwise, the servant lifts him up. Women, even though advanced in years, are saluted with the names of the most beautiful and precious objects; but not without the additional word youngas "young diamond,” "young gold,” "young heaven,” "young flower,” &c. If friends wish to express their mutual attachment, they scratch their hand slightly, and reciprocally suck a drop of blood from the wound.

THE CINGALESE. In Ceylon; when the natives salute, they raise the palm of the hand to the forehead, and make a low bow. Before a superior, they throw themselves upon the ground, continually repeating his name and dignity, while the superior passes gravely on, and hardly deigns to utter a word of reply.

THE SANDWICH ISLANDER. In the Sandwich Islands the natives take each

other by the hand, rub their noses together, and, at the same time, utter the word aloha, in a low wailing tone.

In the Union group, consisting of the three islands of Oatafu, Nukunono, and Fakaäfor, or Bowditch Island, when the natives salute each other, or stranger, they rub noses and chins together, and encircle the necks with their arms, uttering, similarly to the Sandwich Islanders, a word like aloha.

THE SOCIETY ISLANDER.

In the Society and Friendly Islands, and Tahiti, persons touch the ends of each other's noses. This salutation is returned by each rubbing the hand of the other on his own mouth and nose. The Tahitian presents a person whom he chooses for a friend sometimes with a part of his dress, sometimes with the whole. Modern civilization has, however, introduced considerable changes upon these customs.

THE SUMATRANS.

In the island of Sumatra, the saluting person bows, begs the left foot of him whom he addresses, kneels on the ground, and applies his foot to the crown of his head, forehead, breast, and knee ; finally, he touches the ground with his head, and remains for some moments stretched out.

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