The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-05-25
The Arabs.
BY BAYARD TAYLOR.

, "OtSA u thc human JaCC' nc uuiBdi
race is capable of indefinite variety. I
manifests itself in every phase of life
We may subdue nature, but we are none
the less her children. The brine of tht
ocean sticks to the mariner, and should
you meet him a thousand miles inland
the rolling and pitching of the sea clings
to him. Upon examination, We find na.
tions against whom we hold a prejudice
but little inferior in many respects to
ourselves The Arabs have suffered
much from the mis-statements of travel
ers. Their antagonism to Christianity is
a hindrance to an unprejudiced view Of
the race. They have always been con-
sidered as a nation whose hand was a.
gainst every man and every mans hand
against them. We are. apt to cherish the
idea of our school-boy days; that the ~
rab, lean, black-eyed ogres, with flash
ing scimitars, ready, Captain Riley like,
to cut off heads of all unfortunate travel
crs. No travellers have done them justice
except Laya.d and Buckhart They
pursued the true method, adopting the
manners and customes Of the people as
far as practicable.
I was an humble follower Of the same
class for seven months. I found them q
nation which retained the impress Of the
childhood Of the world. To appreciate
the subject, one should see the East and
notice the extremes Of action and reposo.
The black, lustrous eye is indicative Of
vehement action. The sand storm of the
desert symbolizes the wrath Of the human
soul, and the monday sun is fit en-
blem Of their habits of ease and luxury.
What ever we say Of the purity Of our
sky. that Of the East far surpasscs it
The oolors Of the landscape have an in
discriJable glow, as if from furnace
The green Of the palm groves is almost
insarPortab.e to the eye, and the sands
from the desert form, as il we're, flood
Of shining gold. The colors Of the desert
are too bright for dcsolation. After fifty
days travel in the desert, left it chcerel
with the beauty and fascination Of the
scenery. God has breathed his sweetest
breath upon the desert. The Arabs are
wanderers on this sea Of sand. I might
draw an extended parallel between the
sailor on that ocean and the Arab travel
cr on the desert. They are both ungov-
ernable in their tompers, rowing in their
habits, generous to extravaganza, and are
both destitute Of physical cOwardico.
I shall speak Of the desert Arabs, more
properly called Bedouins. They still re-
tain the patriarchal habits Of the time Of
Moses, and as yet have never been sub
dued by any nation. There is no race
which had undergone 50 little change as
the Arabs They are brave, fearless,
generous, subject to great extremes Of
hate and love. As race, they are pas
sionately fond Of poetry, music, and the
dance. The sense Of honor is held in
high estimation among them.
There are two customes peculiarly
characteristic. These are first The
blood revenge by which the murderer is
liable to be reyenged Of the murdered
man, even to the fifth generation, unless
a compromise is accepted by an Offering
Of money. BlOod-thirsty, as it seems,
murder is rare among the Arabs. The
second custom is, the guaranty of pro-
lection given to strangers and even to
the Arabs themselves. The Arab can
claim and Will always receive the Lospi-
tality even of hostile tribe. The fe-
males are constant in their attentions to
the guest, and whatever hatred may exist
against him, the laws of hospitality re-
quire their protection and entertainment
The custom is revered by all, and a vio-
lation of it brings disgrace upon the
transgreseor, lis family and his tribe
Dignity is the natural characteristic Of
the Arab. His calm impassioned face
reveals nothing of his inward emotions,
and the fire Of his eye is the only sign Of
enthusiasm visible Nothing mortiGes
him more than to have a stranger pass
his door without enjoying his hospitality.
The records Of their generosity seem to
US almost fabulous. | remember story
told me Of three chiefs, distinguished for
their generosity. They were called Alb
dallq, Mustapha, and Al-Hesen, A
stranger feiguing distress and wishing to
test their liberality, asked help of them
IN +nrn m, orDlvipr n AbdoNab who