ABSTRACT
When the mutahir came back again, all the children came and sat down four by four at round tables, where the schoolmaster, the barber and the santons had the places of honour. The other grown-up persons waited until the end of this repast before they had their part. The Nubians sat down at the door and received the remains of the dishes, the last scraps of which they distributed to the poor who had been attracted by the noise of the feast. After having passed through two or three series of guests of lower rank, the bones reached a final circle of Stray dogs which had been attracted by the odour of flesh. In these patriarchal feasts nothing is lost. However poor the host, every living creature may claim his share in the feast. Well-to-do people, indeed, are accustomed to pay for their share by giving little presents, which lighten to some extent the burden which, on these occasions, weighs heavily upon the poorer families.
