The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-06
ARAB WARFARE.



fIondon ssandardl
The Arabs. whether the pure Bedouin o.
the q barbarixed . population Of the large
towns, are. from national character, ply
sique, and conditions OF life, admirabl!
suited for arms. and make, under diecip
line, due soldiers. As skirmishers ant
light cavalry they have probably no superi
ors In Asia, and a. the auxiliaries Of a reg
ular force, told of to harrass communica
lions and annoy the enemy generally b!
xtsmpeding conveys, cutting of strsggiers
keeping encampments in perpetual alarm
and so forth. they would be absolutely
without rivals. Seen Ia their native coun
try, q singular monotony OF feature
strikes the visitor, for 10 the desert
~ has been said, expression OF face
knows few varieties Sometimes there ]:
q stupidity ferccious type, but as rule &
ierce seli-sufficiency Is the prevailing tone,
which In old age and high position is re-
placed by very striking dignity. Keeping
the eye partially closed when abroad, part
ly rs a defence against the driving sand
and glare, and parity also from the constant
vigilsnce with which the cautious Bedouin
keeps scanning the horizon, gives TO the
face sinister cast which Is accidental
while the frownng, due 10 the same
causes, seams the face with premature
wrinkles. But apart from this the true
Arab OF the desert Is exactly what he
looks--a fierce and bard-liviBg bandit.
Their tribes have no dwarfs or idiotsamona
them, aud on the other hand no men OF
extraordinary Stature. In height and
weight they maintain a siDgularly close
average. and as for fat Bedaween, such a
phenomenon is impossible. Nor are old
men very common, for the sword, the first
argument OF the people OF the desert, is
fatal TO length OF years. and cuts short dis
pute and life together. IL IL were not as
with lions, that in every community the
fiercest and strongest obtain the predomi-
nance aud exercise their authority with i'm
partial ferocity, and II the terrors Of here
ditary blood-ieuds did not to some
extent keep spears from throats and
clans from internecine bloodshed, the
nation might long ago have dwin-
died into insignifcance, and instead
OF being, as they still are, the strong
est race within their limits, would have
become the mere jackals of solitary places.
Their conceptions OF yalor are not In har-
mony with western ideas, for the Arab.
perched up IN the peaks, thinks IL hOnora-
Bile "warIare to shoot down upon unsus-
pecfing travellers. He is welcomed as
hero when he Is really only an assassin.
" Arab wars are succession OF skirmishes,
in which i've hundred men will retreat
after losing dozen OF their number. The
first charge as a rule secures a victory. and
the vanquished fly till covered by the shades
OF night. Then come cries and taunts OF
women, deep oaths, wild poetry, excite
ment, and reprisals. which will probably
end In the fight Of the former victor
When peace is made both parties count up
their dead, and the usual blood-money Is
paid for excess on either side. Generally,
however, the feud endures till, all becom-
ing weary of IL, some great man, as the
cherif OF Mecca, is called upon to settle
the terms OF treaty, which is nothing but
an armistice. After few months peace a
glance or Yord will draw blood, for these
hates are old growths, and new dissensions
easily shoot up from them"
All this Is contemplate enough to west
erD ideas OF warfare, but Burton, than
whom no one knows the Arab better, says
the BedouiDs are not towards. The habit
Of danger In raids upon each other or on
armed caravans, and i'm the maintenance OF
their blood-iends, the continual uneer-
Iainly OF existence, the desert, the chase,
The hard ilfe generally, all blunt the nervous
system, while their constant handling OF
both In sport and earnest, and |
imazlng passion for martial exercises, |
labituate them to look death in the face |
Ike men. Under the influence of GER
ain powerful motives they rise easily |
o absolute heroism-and none more
,otent than religious fanaticism. A ro-
mantle chiyalry toward women makes the
Arab prize very highly their appreciation
4 his personal courage, and his poetry in
ties him TO exploits Of yeritable knight
rrantry, while both combine to make q
'eaceful and innocent life a matter OF indi-
idual reproach. "The name of harami |
is still honorable among them"
lain in raid or foray, man is said to die
ghandur," or brave. He, on the other
and, who Is lucky enough, as we should
xDress 1t, to die In his bed. Is called "fa-
Is" (carrion). His weeping mother will
xclaim: ooh that my son had perish
d Of a cut throat and her attendant
rones will suggest with Difference that
uch calamity came of the will of
Allah." When such sentiments prevail it
J easy TO understand that ferocious tur-
ulence should be the rule, and the gene
al standard OF personal courage be high.
indeed, the Bedouin considers nothing
lanful but violence. nothing so honorable
5 war. Until he is on horseback. spear
q hand, be hardly considers himself a
ian. The only occupations OF manhood
re shooting and riding. As rule they
re wretched shots, but superb horsemen.
heir weapons are match-locks--like the
LfghaD "jizail with barrels of pre-
osterous length, which they prefer to fire
II when lashed down to rest; flint
ock pistols Of blunderbuss bore.
ayelins, spears, swords, and daggers.
y late the rifle has found its way among
hem, and the Arabs with whom our troops
re engaged go partially armed with the
1eapons thrown away by the Egyptians In
heir rout at Teb and captured In the arse.
ais OF Tokar and Sinkat. But the favor
Ie weapon--that with which they are for
yer PLAYING and practicing--is the " ka-
at, ;" spear twelve feet in length, shod
With fnely-tapering head OF iron and or
amented with Tufts OF ostrich feathers or
orse-hair A short stabbing-javelin, with
broad blade, Is also carried, and IL is with
bis that the unmounted Arab does his
est work. The shield is hike that
the Beuchis and Afghans, a
mall round buckler OF hide bossed
Nth brass. The sword is long and |
lightly curved, though both it and the |
lagger--an invariable feature OF the war
ior's equipment--va according to indi- |
'idual taste. Such weapons as these, it is
yident, cannot render the Bedouins for.
nidable TO the disciplined forces OF modern
ines U treschery and ambnscade have no
Part In The conditions OF the encounter.
or terrible as their appearance may be to
ne scarcely-drilled and wholly-cowardIy
soldiers sentout under Baker Pasha, neither
'he hideous clamor with which they make
'ne nrst rush, nor the gasconade OF gesture
WIN which they attack, will have much !
fuect upon such troops as the Black Watch
pr the veterans az fha gixfu fiji w. |