Adapted from a posting to newsgroup soc.culture.lebanon
by steel@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Nick Steel):

A Homsy (person from the Syrian town of Homs) went hiking in Lebanon.
He saw a shepherd (Ra3i ghanam) with a huge flock of sheep.  The Homsy
told the shepherd: What will you give me if I guess your profession?
you have?  

Shepherd (thinking: No way he'll know.) Ok, I'll give you a sheep.
Homsy: you are a shepherd!
Shepherd: How did you know?
Homsy : Just give me what you promised.
Shepherd: Choose anyone from my flock.
The Homsy picked up an animal and took off.
Shepherd: Will you give me back the animal if I guessed where u are from?
The Homsy: (thinking: No way he'll know.)  Agreed.
Shepherd:  From Homs.
Homsy:  How did you know?
Shepherd: Give me back my dog.