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We took tea by invitation at Mr. Pomroy's and had a pleasant visit. Mr. P. is just as social and jolly as ever, has I think, an additional ease and elegance of manner and is rather more robust and hardy in appearance which is all the change I can discover in him. He described to us an Arab dinner to which he was invited with two or three other guests: he accepted the invitation on condition that the visit should be conducted strictly according to their customs. He arrived before the others and was conducted into a carpetted room of moderate size but very high to secure coolness: no chairs, but a low cushioned seat running all round the room about or less than a foot from the floor with cushions at the back so that one would recline rather than sit: soon after he was seated there servants came in one with something resembling a coffee pot, full of water - another with an empty vessel or tray, a third with towels: they think it an abomination to dip their hands in a dish and wash as we do but it must be running water to carry off all the filth; their habits are far removed from neatness in some other respects. - next servants brought in a censer with some aromatic gum burning, placed it before him & wrapped him in a large sheet to start he might inhale the incense; after this the mistress of the house appeared with a bottle of strong scented rose water - which she sprinkled very plentifully all over him; lastly the master of the house came seated himself near him & began a strain of compliments such as "I take the greatest delight in your company," "I feel greatly honoured that you are my guest" "This room & this house is lightened by your presence" &c. The dinner itself occupied an hour three small round tables about six inches from the floor at which he sat with feet doubled under him. I have not told you much of us of the family who abide here nor have I much to tell nor space to tell it in. J. & E. go on as usual I suppose you know more about them than I do for I see only once in a little age. My school is prosperous apparently and pleasanter than ever before but a teacher in order to be successful must be vigilant on every side

Written up the left side: Poor Mr. Bent from Taunton succumbed yesterday at Ft. John's at church; his wife was oldest daughter to Eliab W. Metcalf of Cambridge consequently second cousin to you, He is to be settled here over the unclear society, J is coming with his family soon.