Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-25
NOTES OF TRAVEL IN PALESTINE.
Written for the National Mtelltgencer 5ya Citizen
Of Washington.
THE ARAB sToRY-TELLER.

This is among his counrymen, most important cha
racer. Every body who has travelled through Egypt
Syria will bear witness that the accompanying pencil
sketch is faithful representation of the class The old
gentleman whose is attached it lives in the neigh
borhood of Beirut He is called Ben Hozain the King of
Takers. The handwriting is his own, and you will adj
NIT that the looks much like Ben Hozain it
does like Benjamin Higgins, Of which think it be
corruption Ben is conspicuous chiefly for the length
of his mousache His tongue is long, but his moustache
is good deal longer fact it is such moustache
any Arab in Syria however distinguished might proud
to swear by 1t is be regretted that people should
swear at ALL but if they viii swear, it is better they
should be proane the subject of boards mousaches
than matters of higher import BY profession and in
clinaton Ben Hozain is story-tele. do to
say that he is given to wful lying any malicious
misrepresentation Of facts but the business of his life is
to entertain the public of Beirut with the traditional
mances of the country. Where people read but little
they make up in for the deficiency by talk
ing and listening good deal This especially the
with the Orentas In the absence of general crcula-
ton of newspapers printed histories of wars phiosoph
cal essays man, and books of travel they must have
professional storytellers, romancers that is to say
whose regular business it is to deal in tradition
fiction. Throughout the whole East there is not
important parsonage than the teller, who
walking newspaper living history, breathing essay
personed book of travels which evolves its stores of
knowledge on selfacting principles As SUCH being
sidered responsible agent he is entitled to the conf
dence of the community and generally enjoys it to the
fullest extent The marvellous his stories the
greater credit they obtain the rabid his political
satres the greater his crculaton the incompre
hensble his theories and illustrations Of human life the
profounder his philosophy He is always popular cha
racter and is indispensable at every smoknghouse The
crandest Pashas listen to him with profound attention
the which he points and the tales which he adorn
their way into the sacred precincts Of the Ha
In the highest circles and in the lowest his ira
ditions and anecdotes swallowed with avidity Men
who have listened for years the stories and the
same jokes continue listen for years again with und
mnished delight, and always applaud at the points
and laugh the strokes of wit No child Of
years. in our cold cline of matter-ofac nature could
devour his first fairy tale ghost story with half the de-
light that an Arab grandfather devours the eftold
mances of the old story-teler.
The way happened to take Ben Hozain's portrait
this One afternoon rode out with dragoman to the
pine grove where the townspeople 60 to smoke the
guilla and display their feats of horsemanshp 1t
shady and pleasant under the trees dismounted and
amused myself taking view Of Syrian coffee house.
near which seated number Of Turks Greeks and
Arabs in all their picturesque varieties of costume An
old sat in the midst Of the group, chanting at the
highest pitch Of his voice the famous Of the White
Princess and the Grand Vzer Sometimes in the excite
Of the love parts he screamed and sometimes pre-
tending to faint and when he was depicting the more
tragic parts where there was murder and suicide he
howled like hyena and counterfeited all the agones Of
death in most thrilling When he got over the
principal difficulties he moderated down into species Of
billing and cooling, winkng and ogng that reminded
forciby Of representations that had Of the passions
in the Astor Place Opera House. could but think
that nature had intended Ben Hozan grace the boards
Of that establishment and delight approaching audi
ence Of the Upper Ten his deneaon Of the passions
so exquisely extravsgant Struck with the picturesque
raggedness of his costume and the length Of his gr1ed
moustache began to sketch him. Gradually the listen
ers dropped of by one, and gathered around
look into the mysteries Of the art All kinds Of queer
marks we're made Of which Yusef gave running in
depreciation. That's Ben Hozain," said one; don't
you see how the Howadja puts down his nose?" "And
his eyes ~ adds another And his noustache {" cries
third Tahib." Good "Adaibl" Wonderful "what
sublime genius the Howadja hasw "Ten Ben Hozain"
said TO little closer, and you shall him
this paper just he lives and breathesp "Adjaib |"
Wonderful This way, Hozan The Howadja wants
you" But Ho1an had notion Of being interrupted in
his story He went louder than before the subject
of the White Princess. "By Aa" cried the Arabs he
shall come Hozain must be done on paper |" With
which two stout fellows TO where he sat- seized
him each side by the moustache, and hauled him up
before He was the most comcal and good-humored
old gentleman Imaginable his face covered with
wrinkles and the subbes Of white beard and he seemed
quite delightful at afordng merriment to the crowd
Here you have him just he set with his moustache in
full his eyes twinking with fun and tradition in every
wrinkle Of his mouth. So pleased he with his ap
pearance paper that he put his to the sketch
The Arabs all in ecstaces and begged me to take
them and oil but there being about thirty of them
had to Decline the plea Of having important business
to attend TO that evening
AS going away the old story-eller looked visit
fully at me "wels" said ], "vhat do you want now,
my friend"
Backshish," said he
"Por what I'm going to put you in book Isn't
that backshsh enough"
"But III the book I'd rather have the back
shsh now" l...t,-rsr
THAT'S strange Have you no pride in the honor Of
the thing Think Of the fame it will give you Ben Ho
rain win be known in the rcmotest corners Of America"
"Ab Grand Segnor, Sultan Of the United States Ben
Hozain is already the victim Of fame For more than
forty years have told stories for the public good Sui
tans have praised me, Pash,s have sppauded my TO