Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-03-10
4" THE ARABS"
by BA1ARp TAYLOR OF NEW YORK.

1.-THE ARABS
by BAIARD TAYLOR OF NEW YORK.
Those who have always lived at
home can form no Just conception of
The character of the human race
The human race is capable of lntin-
lie variety. Ii manitesls itself in ev-
cry phase of life. We may subdue
nature, but we are none the less her
children. The brine OF the ocean
sticks TO the mariner, aud should YOU
meet him thousand miles ia the in
land, the rolling aud pitching Of the
sea clings to him. Upon examina-
lion, we find nations, against whom
we hold prejudice, but little inierl-
or IN many respects to ourselves
The Arabs have suffered much from
the mlstatements of travellers. Their
antagonlsm TO Christianity is hind
rance TO an unprejudiced view of the
race. They have always been con-
sidered as a nation whose hand was
against every man and every mans
hand against them. We are apt to
cherish the idea of our schooi-boy
days, that the Arabs are lean, black.
eyed ogres, with flashing scimIiars,
ready, Capt. RIley-Iike, to cut off the
heads of all unfortunate travelefs.-
No Traveller has done them Justice ex-
cept Layard and Buckhart. They
pursue the true method, adopting the
msnnors and customs OF the ne"r!o
as far as practicable.
was an humble follower Of the
same class for seven months. lfeund
them nation which retained the I'M
press of the childhood of the world.
70 appreciate the subject, one should
see the East and notice the extremes
of action and repose. The black,
lustrous eye is indicative OF vehem-
ent action. The sand storm of tie
desert symbolizes the wrath of the
human soul, and the noon-d day sun is
fit emblem of their habits of ease
and luxury. Whatever we may say
of the purity of our sky, that OF the
East far surpasses II. The colors of
the landscape have an indescrlbable
glow, as if from furnace. The
green of the palm grove is almost in
supporlable to the eye, and the sands
of the desert form as 1t were u floor
of shining gold. The colors Of The
desert are too bright for desolation.
After fifty days travel IN the desert,
| left 1t che, red with the beauty aud
fascination of the scenery. God has
breaihed his sweetest breath upon
the desert. The Arabs Are wander
ers on this sea of sand. | might
draw an extended parallel between
the sailor on the ocean and the Arab
travelling on the desert. They are
both ungoYernable IN their tempors,
rowing IN their habits, generous to ex-
trayagance, and are both destitute Of
physical cowardIce.
shall speak of the desert Arabs,
more properly called Bedouins. They
still retain the patriarchal habit OF the
time OF Moses, and as yet have new
er been subdued by any nation
There is no race which has UNDER
o. - So OuuuSV 40 suS 4rtovs.-
They are brave, fearless, generous,
subject 10 great extremes of hate and
love. AS race, they are passionate,
fond of poetry, music and the dance.
The sense of honor is held in high
estimation among them.
There are two customs, peculiarly
characteristic of their race. These
are frst,-the blood revenge by
which the murderer is liable 10 be
revenged of the murdered man, even
TO the fifth generation, unless com
promise is accepted by an offering of
money. Blood-lhirsty as it seems,
murder is rare among the Arabs
The second custom is, the guaranty
of protection given to all strangers
and even to Arabs themselves. The
Arab can claim and will always re-
ceive the hospitality even of hos
tile tribe. The females are constant
in their attentions to the guest, and
whatever hatred may exist against
him the laws Of hospitality require
their protection and entertainment
The custom is revered by all, and a
violation of it brings disgrace 'upon
the uansgressor, his family and his
tribe. Dignity is the natural charac-
terstic Of the Arab. His calm i'm
passioned face reveals nothing Of his
inward emotions, and the fire of bis
eye is the only sign Of enthusiasm
visible. Nothing mortifies him more
than 10 have stranger pass his door
without enjoying his hospitality. The
records Of their generosity seem to
US almost fabulous. l remember a
story told me Of three chiefs, distin-