Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-09-17
THE ARAB SHIEK AND THE ENGLISH
CHRISTIAN.

CHRISTIAN.
| During the time | was 10 Asia (said my
| ffiend) l had occasion to cross part Of the
Arabian desert toward the Red Sea. of course
on this journey it is necessary not only to have
guide, but body guard and mine was
composed of eight or nine as wild and pictur-
esque Bedouins as You could wish to see, true
sons of the desert and Ishmaelites of pure
descent; there could not be much doubt about
it.
They were faithful to me, however and it
was pleasant to galloT, day after day, amidst
| this lawless troop, sometimes c0nversing with
the shielS in such Arabic as / had contrived to
pick up, and at other times witnessing such
feats of horsemanship as my guards pleased to
exhibit for my amusement, or to practice for
their own. In the heat of the day we struck
| our tents (such tents y and rested, as we did
also at night. Our midday slumber was often
the most profound and the most prolonged.
One evening wo had encamped, as usual,
| beside a muddy fountain, secured our horses,
lighted our fire, and drank our coffee. My
guards were seated around the fire, smoking
and talking, while l made an effort to sleep
under the cover Of the tent provided for my
special use. 1t was all in vain. The shiel
had advised mo of night attack of marau
ders, not of his tribe, whom he supposed {,
be in the neighborhood, but had begged mt
not to be alarmed, for my life was precious i
} his hands he would defend me to the las
drop of his hearts blood.
1t might be that half believed the report
and then half dstrusted my respectable friend
lrlvery; or it might be my SieStd had taken ol
the edge of my drowsness, or that thoughts
OF home kept my mind busy, or that the cotiet
/ had drank had served as anti-soporific, ol
that the loud talking Bedouins disturbed me
In short, l could not sleep, and tired OF mae
tion, lett my tent and drew near to the fire,
which was pleasant; for, hot as are the days
of desert travelling, the nights are often
chilly.
| My guards made room for me as ! came
| near; and seating myself beside the shick,
lighted my pipe, and looking at the grim coun-
tenances OF the ragged fellows around me,
each of whom was armed with pistols stuck
into the belt, and musket within reach of his
han, l wondered what my friends in Eng
land would think, if at that moment they had
seen me.
My presence did not much disturb the To-
quacity Of my guards but paid little heed to
their rapid conversation, till the shick, turning
suddenly around upon me, exclaimed:
'' What strange men you Englishmen are!"
How so 20 l asked. "Why strange z"
's You never FAST" said he.
&c Not ofien,'' replied, laughingly {. that
is, when we can get anything to eat"
My Arab friend laughed too, for that eve
ming we had supped sparsely from necessity /;
gion You dent pray; you don't give aims /;
you do nothing"
This was home-thrust, and my conscience
felt it. l had looked upon the poor fellows
around me so bigoted in their faith, and had
considered myself so completely in their pow
er, that deemed it prudent to avoid every
| topic that might rouse their passions. In my
solitary tent at midday | read the word OF
life; but had concealed with jealous care
from my guards the knowledge that had car
ried about with me the S'Christian's Koran,"
and when at morning and night l commended
myself in prayer, to God my Maker through
Christ my Saviour, had drawn close around
me the curtain Of the tent, and whispered
| low and fearfully, lest should be overheard.
"You have no religion" said the shiek /;
you don't pray you do nothing"
sGod forgive me,'' thought. ''The rebuke
is not altogether uniust.'
Now we,h continued my reprover, and he
went on boastingly to tell what their prophe
required of them, and how faithful was theil
| obedience in matters Of devotion, charity ant
sell denial; ana wnlte nc spoke nIteu up AZ.
heart to God and sought couIage to bear
feeble testimony to his word. When th'
shiek paused, 1 put my hand into my bosom
drew forth New Testament.
g have religion,'' l said. '' Would yo
like to hear what it teaches on these high mat
ters ~
By this time the attention of all my guar
was directed to me. Their quick, sparkling
eyes were fixed fiercely, as l thought, upol
me, their dark visages looking grim by tn,
flashing fire around which they We're seated
and their hands were ready to grasp weapoi
that would speedily bring down vengeance
upon the head of the infidel dog who dare TO
blaspheme against their prophet.
''Listen,o said, as opened the Testament
at the sixth chapter of the Gospel according
to st. Matthew, " You speak of aims giving
hear what my Koran says about alms;" and
rendered into Arabic the first four verses
sc Take heed that you do not give your aims
before men, to be seen Of Them" &c. When
l stopped looked up, and the dark counte.
nances around me were glistehing, but moi
with anger.
"Good" exclaimed the shiek; F." this is
very good go on"
gathered courage, and read again. 'sAnd
when thou prayeSt," &c. l read, tTanslating
as | read, to the fifteenth verse. Again
looked around ne.
Sc Bismillah! but this is wonderful wonder
ful /" exclaimed one to another, stroking theiI
boards; wwonderiul'' and every harsh and
forbidden feature was soitened down to quiet
calm attention. More morc!"
read on " Moreover when ye FAST" &c
+ " "Bismillah % exclaimed the shiel ''this is
wonderfulP'
| needed no further urging on. Verse by
|
the close of the chapter, interrupted by thi
exclamations of wonder and appreciation.
Wonderful ~ said my worthy friend, thu
shiek, when at length closed the book; "bu
t this is wonderful lind 1rhat good people yO
christians ought 10 bc'"
f never, Continued my friend,) forgot, an
hope never shall forget, the lesson taugh
mo by that desert fire. In the first place,
: saw as had never before seen, that cautio
) may degenerate into cOwardice and learne
in the second place, the enemies Of Christian
ity themselves being our judges, that If tn
- prOtessed followers of Christ were but in u
what they ought to be, " like-minded toward
4 one another, according to Jesus Christi" the
would they, "wito one mind, and one mout
: glorify God, even the Father of our Lord j
: sus Christi and the constrained verdict Of Il
a unbelievIng world will be, &c Nay, but this
/ wonderful !''-LOndOn Tract Mdgasine.
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