Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-01-03
CHAPTER XIV.
ADVENTURES ON THE DESERT.

| ADVENTURES ON THE DESERT.
Tom Jalakni proved himself to be man
of great shrcwducss, while the detective also
displayed equal cunning The disguiscs
were adopted and whcu Frank Midgcly,
Walton Spraguc, and an escort of natives,
under the command of Tom Jalakci, set ont
for the empire Of Persia, it would not have
been possible for the nearest friend of the
two seeming French gentleman to have
penetrated their disguise. 1t was on the
third day Of their journey that they cncoun.
tered their first adventure. They had been
travelling for twelve hours without drink for
themselves and horses, when toward evening
they came in sight Of the foothills Of some
distant mountains At the same moment
they cspicd body of horscmcn approach
ing. The Bedonins had discovered our
party of travellers, and were evidently com.
ing openly to communicate with them.
Tom Jalnkei understood French, and in
order to deceive tho escort he had secured,
he always addressed Sprugnc and Frank in
that language. AS he saw tho horscmen
aud realized that they were coming to com.
municate, he said:
"Now, then, VIC must be exceedingly
wary; remember that seemingly become
your enemy, but under no circumstances
must you ever have the least fear. | wuull
die a thousand dcAths before ] would be
talsco you in any way"
Both the Americans assured him that
they SO believed
"You will have to DO your talking with
those raving plundcrcrs through me, and
you may SEQ me hobnobbing with them, but
as snid before, remember that all do is
in your interest. must be an Arab now"
The party of horscmcn soon drew near.
Our readers, We know, will be pleased to
have us record all exceedingly brief account
of these strange people. The Arabic name
for these people is Bcdouin, meaning dwell
lcrs in the desert They are generally re.
gardcd, according to history, as descendants
of lshmacl, and tho aborigines of Arabia
The desert Of Arabin, especially the plateau
OF Ncdyia, is their central place of abode,
but even in ancient times they had spread
themselves over the deserts of Egypt upd
Syria; and in later times, after the decay Of
ancient civilization, they entered Syria,
Mcsopotamia and Chaldea. at present thew
arc to be found scattered over an immense
tract o! territory from the western
from the mountains Of Kurdistan to the
negro countries of Sudan. Tho character
istcs of tho Bcdouins as horsemcn and
robbers Of tho desert are intimately con
ncctcd with the nature Of their habitation
Thor obstinate, precarious, and often soil
tary mode of life, makes them disposed, on
occasions where their interest is not Involved
to offer hospitality; but this is associated With
violent passions and an infamous love Of
| p'undcr which is utterly reckless of the
rights of property. They arc the most in
vctcrate plundercrs on the face of the globe,
in fact, q nation Of robbers. They are
generally well made men, lean, sincwy md
active, but on account of frequent hardships
and prlvations, arc commonly bclow tho
middle stature. Their senses, especially
sight, arc keen, and their carriage 10 free
and Independent. Tho nose is commonly
aquilinc, the face rather Heightened and the
eyes well shaped, and expressive of both
daring and cunning. In complexion, they
have various shades of browo; and with the
exception of certain tribes in Syria, arc all
profcsscdy Mohammcdans, although, in
many cases, not strict in the Observance of
their religious rites and duties. Such arc
tho general characteristics Of tho men who
rode up and salutcd Walton Spragnc and
Frank Midsely. Their appearance was
wild and romantic in the extreme. They
were attircd in the usual apparel of their
race, which consists of the haiE, long,
wbitc garment, fastened at the head, and
descending to the feet, and the Ju,noosc, a
largo mantle. Tho chief, only, was dressed
in brccchcs and linen shirt. The hair OF
their heads was shaven, but their boards,
which is tho pride Of tho Bedouins, wero
worn long. They wcro very courteous in
their address to our travellers, and invited
them to visit their camp. A sign from
Tom Jalakci caused tho Americans to de-