The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-19
IA (seellane0us.
THE ARABS.
BY ELI SMITH, MISSIONARY TO SYRIA.

The Arabs comprise two distinct classes the
travelling Arab and the resident Arab The
former Is the Bedouin of the desert, and the lat
ter the Hoolaen Arab, who lives by agriculture.
The Bedouin Arab will not cultivate the SOIL
He is the original Arab stock-a wandercr He
possesses all the characteristics of the original
race. He is Of the Arab nobility poor, but
proud, and can trace his genealogy back purer
and farther through line of Arab nobility than
the princes and mobiles of Europe. And no po-
tentate OF any part Of the world was ever proud
err, or more careful to avoid intermarriage with
plebeian than is Bedouin Arab.
lie is generally as free as the chainless wind
in all his movements. He scorns the govern
ment of any nation, and although you may now
see the black tents of the Arabs scattered about
the hills of Mount Lebanon, and on the borders
af the EuYne and Caspian Seas, still he detests
the control of the Turk and hates the Russian !;
and on the least attempt to curb him he flies to
the desert and luxuriates in poverty and freedom.
The other class of Arabs cultivate the soil,
and many of their original characteristics dis
appear. They are also employed in trade, and
are subject toothers as in Mesapotamia, Tur-
key, Syria and under the government of Me-
hemet Ali. In the extreme West there are Sc
vera independent tribes of Arabs so in the
South, they an Independent people under the
Sultan of Muscat and other active princes
There is one trait possessed by the Arab which
is more valuable-it is nice sense Of honor
There are still good and bad among them, but
they all have high sense of honorable obliga
ton. Another feature is their universal hospi-
tality. This has come down from of old to
them. In their lofty poetry, which is more ex-
allied in its character than that of any other ma
ton, they laud and extol that of the Arab who
consumes his substance to entertain strangers ;
and the Arab has no greater boast than that the
fire of his heath never goes out but is always
burning to cook food for the stranger, his guest.
Dismount from your horse in the desert, and en-
ter the Arabs tent, and he will entertain you as
Abraham did of old, if not with the calf, yet
with the milk and butter and the best he has,
and wait on you until you are refreshed. For to
be economical, is with the Arabs the height of
meanness.
Again, good trait is the sacred character of
his guest. Some few are treacheIous; but if
you wish to pass alone through the desert OF Ara
ba there is no difficulty; friendly Arab will
pass you on to another tribe from the Black Sea
to the Arabian Cuff; and when Mr., Robinson
and myself were atJerusaem and wish he'd to go to
certain parts of Syria, our friendly Arab brought
us an Arab whose tawney skin and dark bushy
beard, square-turned joints and strength Of limb
showed him no man of peace; he was the chief
of the robbers of that region, and yet he con-
Quoted us safe to our destination, and brought
us back unframed
The Arab never sheds blood if he can
avoid it. II is his independence, and his deter
minalion never to give himself up TO any GO
vernment, that sometimes makes him kill his OPP
posers This personal independence is posses
sed BY all; and if blood be shed it belongs to his
nearest relative to avenge it. This beautiful
feeling Of personal independence of character is
possessed BY the martial servants, who stand up
and raise their voice in the presence of their mas
tiers like the sons Of republicans in their fathers
halls This independence was shown when the
Bishop of Bevrout threatened to excommuni-
cate those Arabs who came to hear us preach
On the Sunday after he issued his edct our
chapel was fuller than ever.
And see them still measuring their strength
with, and vanquishing the chiefs OF the once
proud and powerful Turkish empire And again,
see, in the West how difficult il is rthe French
to subdue the bravest of all brave Arabs, Abd-el-
Kader. Another proof of their independence
and bravery is shown by the Druse Arabs
South of Damascus some few Druses fled INTO
a volcanic region; and there lbrahlm Pacha with
10000 men besieged them for months without
subduing them; and one man fora long time de-
tended defle against four hundred.
| And then there is so much to admire In
the sternness, patience and endurance OF cha
racter Of the Arab. He would rather die than
die or till the soil Although have been so
much among them, know not how they live
An Arabian will start out on journey with
few pounds Of meat, and if he find not food when
that is gone he will endure hunger and thirst
and the severest privation rather than complain.
Their sternness of character and power OF en-
durance surpass comprehension.