_House-marks, &c_. (Vol. vii., p. 594. Vol. viii., p. 62.).--May I be
allowed to inform MR. COLLYNS that the custom he refers to is by no means
of modern date. Nearly all the cattle which come to Malta from Barbary to
be stall-fed for consumption, or horses to be sold in the garrison, bring
with them their distinguishing marks by which they may be easily known.
And it may not be out of place to remark, that being one of a party in the
winter of 1830, travelling overland from Smyrna to Ephesus, we reached a
place just before sunset where a roving band of Turcomans had encamped for
the night. On nearing these people we observed that the women were
preparing food for their supper, while the men were employed in branding
with a hot iron, under the camel's upper lip, their own peculiar mark,--a
very necessary precaution, it must be allowed, with people who are so well
known for their pilfering propensities, not only practised on each other,
but also on all those who come within their neighbourhood. Having as
strangers paid our tribute to their great dexterity in their profession,
the circumstance was published at the time, and to this day is not
forgotten.