"Long life to them and health and happiness!"
"What men does your clan count?"
"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.
Hence the Master's command, "Salute no man by the way." Surely the intention was not to be rude and unfriendly to fellow travelers, but to be completely absorbed by the glorious message of the Gospel. The command was given because "the king's business required haste." Even an Oriental must quicken his pace when his mission is "to seek and to save that which was lost."
[[1]] 2 Cor. xi: 26, 27.
[[2]] The Arabic and the Revised Versions: "make strong."
[[3]] Matt. x: 9, 10.