Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-04-26
Arab Felicity.

M il ~ II IL IL IA 4V Il
Arab Felicity.
Travelling in the East is no child's play; an
indomitable will and good constistution are
essential requisites. The pretty, sentimental
notions of golden sands and sparkling waters,
picked up in our childhood, are speedily dssipa
ted under drenchlng rains, burning suns and
pinching night frosts. Let US hear the account
of q traveller
We were in sorry plight when we reached
the Bedouin encampment, and were politely met
by the chief man of the camp, who bade US well
ane to his tent. How often in my youth have
I$Baried of a Bedoun encampment, apd imag-
ined the rural simplicity and beauty OF such q .
life! Aud then how Olney's Geography had
heightend the pleasing impression by its pretty
picture of little Arab children caressing tame
horse, while the patriarchal Arab his wife, and
daughter were sitting quietly at the tent door at
sunset. and scattered all around were camels re-
posing and colts gapboling! Like other pleas
ing impressions of childhood, this, also was dis.
pelled by actual experience. The encampment
which now gave US refuge was planted on rich
black soil, which owing to the rain and the
trampling of human and beastial feet, had been
converted into muddy slough. The tents were
low and around each door were dirty children
padding in puddles, and snarling ours lighting
over bones.
Happily for u.s. our tent was on the outskirts,
and. if Ibrahim told the truth, was the largest
and most regal in the whole encampment 1t
was Just about fifteen feet long by ten wide,
made of goats hair and so low as hardly to ad.
nit of our standing upright. A huge fire blazed
exactly in the centre, and the smoke was suffered
to make its way out as it could, by the doorway
under the edges of the tent, o. through the gaps
above. The only way to keep from suffocating
was to lie fiat on our backs, which we did, with
our feet to the FIRE, being arranged like the
spokes of a wheel We ourselves occupied one
half of the circle, our host, his wives and child
rem, and great multitude of guests, attracted
by curiosity, occupying the other half, and cho'
king up the doorway, about which there was q
continual fight for precedence. besides our
selves, the tent was quite choked mp with the
the household and agricultural stuff OF our rich
host; and one corner was entirely monopoiized
| by an enclosure containing four very active
calves, which required all of our hosts elder wife
to keep them in their prison. Once, indeed
they did escape, and rushed like "thunderbolt'
(as some writers say of armies) through the SER
| ried ranks of spectators in the doorway.
Amid all these difficulties we took our dinner
which excited the amazement OF the crowd ano
| in the progress of which my only pair OF boot;
were kicked into the fire by careless spectator
and burnt to crisp.
After this we spent the evening in talking
over the adventures of the day, and gossipplne
with our hosts younger wife, who Jauntlly
dressed seemed to have nothing to do but sit an6
scrutinize us carefully. The older wife was ev-
identity the drudge, and what time she ooulc
spare from watching the calves, she spent II
stirring vigorously her lords broth.
| The question as to how and where we were te
sleep was curious one. 1t was finally settlee
by an appropriation to our exclusive use of hal
the space usually occupied by the Arab and biz
family. They made their beds on the top OF the
househould stuff and we ours on the top OF the
agricultural implements AS there was only
room for five of US in row and very closely
packed, was compelled to take my position a.
their feet with cart-wheel for my pillow, anc
so subject to all the kicks which uneasy dreams
are apt to produce. With my feet burning il
the fire, and my head freezing, while the rail-
kept dripping into my face from the leaky roof
there was no possibility of sleep, and so hat
the whole night to observe what was going OF
about Inc. All night long the wind kept howl
ing dreadfully, and the rain poured down with
out ceasiDg
On one side of the fire, in the centre of th'
tent and driven in by stress of weather, stood {
cow and donkey, keeping company with ont
of our muleteers, who had entered surreptitious-
ly and uninvited On the other side sat ou
host bolt upright. Whether this was in honol
of US, or through suspicion of US, know not
but there he sat all night-never stirred from
his place, and never slept wink. Now hi
would scratch himself very vigorously, Qor hea
abounded J now he would bow his head to the
ground, and humble his prayers now he woult
stretch out his long arms, and dip into the ket-
tie of broth, and slap his stomach as he TASTED
the savory food. And then the scratching, ant
bowling, and mumbing, and dipping would bt
gone over again in the same order; and so il
went on till dawn, when the older wife arose
let out the calves, and filled up an undresset
goat skin with curds, began to thrash it with
club-a way she had of making butter. This
of course, walked up my FIVE kicking companions
and the long night was ended. A strange night
it was to your wakeful correspondent, lying
there listening to the rain and wind, and think
ing how tar he was from all civilization, in 6
wild land, among wild people. thought of the
Arabs salt, and felt secure; thought more o.
the good Providence that was over Us, and keep
| ing US by night and by day.