In the tenth chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, Jesus' commission to the disciples contains the command, "And salute no man by the way." It would seem strange, indeed, that those messengers of peace and good-will, who were being sent out to spread the leaven of friendliness and good cheer in the world, should be enjoined by their Master to salute no man by the way. But when it is known in what manner the Orientals salute one another on those weary journeys, the Gospel restriction will not seem so very strange. Wayfarers in the East do not content themselves with the severely brief Western salutation, "How d' you do; nice day," and then pass on. The Oriental salutation is a copious flow of soul, whose intimacy and inquisitiveness are quite strange to the mentality of the West.
When the ways of two travelers converge, or the one overtakes the other, and they decide to _yatrafeko_ (be companion the one to the other) { 256} and "wear away the road in friendly speech," the salutation runs as follows:--
"_Allah y'atek el'afieh_ [May God give you health and strength]."
"_Allah y'afie imrak_ [May God refresh and strengthen your life]."
"Whence has your excellent presence [_heth-retek_] come, and whither are you facing?"
"From Nazareth have I come, and am facing towards Damascus."
"Your humble servant Mas'ud, son of Yusuf of the clan of Ayyub [Job]."
"_Wann'am, wann'am_ [All honor, all honor]!"
"_Wann'am_ to your excellent presence, and your respected clan!"
"What children have you?" (It is taken for granted that a man of that age has been long since married.)
"Long life to them and health and happiness!"
"We turn out _seb'een baroody_ [seventy shotguns]."
"_Seb'een baroody_! Valiant men. What enemies have you in your native town?"
"Our chief enemy is the clan of Haddad. They turn out one hundred _baroody_, but whenever the iron gets hot [that is, whenever a fight occurs] we shatter their forces."
Thus the mutually complimentary conversation and the searching of hearts continue until each of the travelers is thoroughly informed concerning the personal, domestic, and social affairs of the other. The trade, the income, the profession, the cares and anxieties, and even the likes and dislikes of each are made known to the other before their ways part.