New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-26
SONNINI AND BEDOULN honor.
From. The Gentleman's Magazine.

There IS still the old Bedoun honor in observing
the Wild rules OF the desert. Should a wayfarers
camel sink and die benath It's burden the owner
need only draw a circle round the dead beast and
90 on his way, secUre of finding his goods untouched
when able To return and remove them. And net
only is the INV Olabe reverence for the hospitality
of the tent, when once granted, fully maintained,
but we are even told by travellers that they have
occasionally left tent in the desert for upward OF
a twelvemOnth, and returned to hno that not one
cord or one peg had been touched
There have even been cases in which travesrs,
who, according to the rules OF the desert had been
quite legitimately robbed have, by sudden appeal
to the honor of their captOrs. obtained not only
their freedom but a restitution OF their stolen
property. Such was the experience of SonnlIl
scientific French traveller, who when crossing tho
desert near tho Natron lakes, was surprised Dya
troop OF about hundred well-mounted BedOuins
In presence OF such force, his own small party Oh
six, two of whom were Egyptians were altogether
helpless. They we're at once disarmed and stripped
of their money, arms, provisions and most OF their
clothes The robbers then spread out their booty en-
the sand and proceeded to divide 1t among them
selves.
Meanwhile their Arab guide, Hussein, blmsefs
Bcdouin, though of another tribe. addressed a pa,
thetIc appeal to the rObber chief Arabs" saia
he, you have stripped "a man intrusted TO my pro-
lection and for whose safety will stake my lie;
man with whom | have eaten. who has slept IN my
tent and has become my brother! Never again can
| enter that tent never again dare l return 10 my
camp; never more look upon the face OF my vile o.
my children. Arabs take my life, oil restore 70
my brother every article of his property" AS no
spoke. he snatched back his gun from the Arab VINO
had first seized il, and leveled 1t at the Chief ds
termncd to shoot him in case of refusal. though
well aware that his own lite would instantly W
forfeit.
His brave bearing combined with the pathos Oh
his words touched these sons of the desert. Inc
shsikh consented that everything should oere
stored and though some of his followers sorey
grudgcd giving ur their spolls. every article VIZ
delivered uU. with the exception OF n consaerapei'
SUN of money, which had been distracted IRON 81.
Sonninps purse and divided by the Arabs aniOhs
themselves. The shcikh was very particular IN IN ~
curing whether the full sum had been restorcd VI.
the traveller. deemiDg himself fortunate 70 Ia,1
got OIL SD well, assured him that he had rece's'
everything right. -. a..
Not content with this act OF .restituiIou r rhs
Arabs now became exceedingly cordial ~.
shoikh insisted that NJ. Sonnini should ride ns w.
sheikhs) horse while he walked beside MN tI i0
same compliment paid bv other Arabs " I 10
Ompanions, all of whom thanked Heaven tna' , b
blood had been shed, at the same tmo biain'ns ~
fore gners for their temeIity in exploring the s
aud thus, AZ it were. offering themselves as -"
objects for plage.