He was largely charitable because the charitable man is the friend of Allah, and when he walked out of his house--built of stone, just outside the town of Penang--on his way to his godowns in the port, he had often to snatch his hand away sharply from under the lips of men of his race and creed; and often he had to murmur deprecating words, or even to rebuke with severity those who attempted to touch his knees with their finger-tips in gratitude or supplication.

He was very handsome, and carried his small head high with meek gravity.

His lofty brow, straight nose, narrow, dark face with its chiselled delicacy of feature, gave him an aristocratic appearance which proclaimed his pure descent.

His beard was trimmed close and to a rounded point.

His large brown eyes looked out steadily with a sweetness that was belied by the expression of his thin-lipped mouth.