The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-01-18
sonnini and Redouin Honor.

There is still the old Bedouin honor
In observing the wild rules of the desert
Should a wayfarer's camel sink and die
beneath its burden, the owner need only
draw a circle round the dead beast and
go on his way, secure of finding his
goods untouched when able to return
and move them. And not only is the
inriolable reverence for the hospitality
of the tent, when once granted, fully
maintained, but we are even told by
travellers that they have occasionally left
a tent in the desert for upward of a
twelvemonth, and returned to find that
not one cord or one peg had been
touched.
There have even been cases in which
travellers who, according to the rules of
the desert, have 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 expert
ence of Sonnini, scientific French trav-
eler, who, when crossing the desert near
the Natron. lakes. was surprised by a
troop Of about hundred well-meunted
Bedouins. In presence of such force,
his own small party OF six, two of whom
were Egyptians, were altogether help
less They were at once disarmed and
stripped of their money, arms, provis-
ions and most of their clothes. The rob
bers then spread out their booty on the
sand and proceeded to divide it among
themselves.
Meanwhile their Arab guide, Hussein,
himself a Bedouin, though of another
tribe, addressed pathetic appeal to the
robber chief. ''Arabs," said he, s'you
have stripped man intrusted to my pro-
lection, and for whose safety will stake
myhfe; man with whom [ have eaten,
who has slept in my tent, and has be-
come my brother! Never again can I
enter. that tent; never again. dare l re-
turn to my camp; never more look upon
the face of my wife or my children.
Arabs! take my life or restore to nv
brother every article of his property
As he spoke shes.snatched back his gun
from the Arab who had first seized it
and leYeled it at the chief, determined to
shoot him in case of refusal, though well
aware that his own life would instantly
b be forfeit. se la a -
His braye bearing, combined with the
d psttIloS VI his WoIuS, lOucHeQ Il6SG SOIlS
of the desert. The Sheikh consented that
= everything should be restored, and
though some of his followers sorely
grudged giving up their spoils, every
article was delivered up, with the ex-
eeption of considerable sum of money,
. which had been distracted from M. Son.
nini's purse and divided by the Arabs
among themselves. The Sheikh was
very particular in inquiring whether the
= full sum had been restored, butthe trav-
efer,. deeming himself fortunate to have
got off so well. assured him that he had
received everything right. u
z Z Not content with this act of restitu-
ton, the Arabs now became exceedingly
!. cordial, The Sheikh insisted that NJ.
Sonnini should ride his (the Sheikh' 81
horse while he walked beside him.. The
same compliment was paid by other
AratT to his companions, all of whom
thanked Heaven that no blood had been
shed, at the same time blaming the for.
Heigners for theil temerity in exploring
,flthe desert and thus, as it were. offering
themselves as fair objects for pilIage
Gel1ttepsGit'S Magazine.