, 1885-11-06
rAg c-LLp ,en "a rAg ogsEaT.


A syrian's Description of the ~aIannets
aud Customs of a Romantic Race.
lcourier-Journa Interview
In conversation with a party of
Syrians at the exposition one of thom
gave to a reporter an account of the
Bedouins, that mysterious people who
have inhabited the desert Of the Orient
and lived in a nomadic state for cen
turtles. Their origin is yelled in OBJ
security, and is older than any oiviliza-
ton. They are as much a distinct and
peculiar race as the Jews, and have
manner and customs, governmental
and domestic, that characterized them
before the time of the Genghis Kahn or
Tamerlane. The Syrian, who spoke
OF them, said
They number about half n million Of
different tribes. They never dwell I'M
der a stationary roof, but live in NOV
able tents, the fabric of camel hair or
goat hair, as the tribe is opulcnt or in
dignant. They roam the desert, re
mining in a place only as long as the
pasturage continues su tcicnt for their
ilocks and herds. Zach tribe is gov
erned by a sheikh. who has auto
cratic power over life, liberty. and
property. Some Of the tribes are
powerful, and number as many as
1000 tents, and none less than 200
tents They are governcl 10y no writ
ten law, but are sub Get alone to the
will and conscience OF the sheikhs, who
pay but slight regard to kl-koran.
Their wealth IL estimated according to
the number OF their cattle, and their
power according to the number of their
horses. Theirs are the finest horses on
the globe aud they the best riders. Their
care and attention for their hcrses equal
the affection of n tender Christian
father for his offspring.
The children of the desert arc re.
markably quick and Intelligent. Their
sense of sight is wonderfully acute, and
equal to a tield-glass of considerable
power. They excel tho American Indian
in the pursuit of stolen or strayed cat
tie, horses or camels, and can trace
them for hundreds OF miles across the
desert, even though immense %ravan
have travelled the same paths.
They are proyerbial for their hospi-
tally. / lived with them for four years,
and they were necessary to mt in pro-
tecting my silk farms, some hundreds
Of miles in the interior from Damascus.
They would protect and guard a guest
from harm AT the expense of their lives
and fortunes. Their tents are a sanctu-
AIRY for any man, no matter what his
crime, who inyokes their protection. If
the host be shiekh or shepherd, it is all
the same, the whole tribe would spill
the last drop of blood in defense
of the guest, though he were the lowest
outcast and most miserable beggar that
claimed asylum. Breach of hospitality
is the greatest of crimes, and they look
upon it with emotions Of horror. Who
ever eats of their salt or their bread, or
drinks of their pucketo, or ties a hand
kerchief to the cord Of their tent, is
their brother forever. If ones enemy
recaptures him after being their guest
they will fight for him to death, or pay
their last maravedi for a ransom,
though it beggar the clan.
To enemies, on tine other hand, thoy
give no quarter, and in battle they are
rs savage as they are brave, and COM
init deeds Of a~trocity in the hour Of
victory that makes humanity shndder.
They celebrate their victory by feats of
Craftsmanship on the part of the males
and dances and songs ny the females,
concluding with n sword dance, in
which both sexes participate and in
which all are exceedingly expert.
"a Bedouin is never separated from
his horse. lie claims that his horse is
part of his life, and the puror strains
have never been sold from the tribes.
All the gold of Ophir, all the Jewels of
Goleonda could not purchase one of the
fine strains of noble horses which they
possess and whose purity has been un-
deiled with colder blood for centuries.
Their horses are not large, but exquis-
itely proportional for speed and endur-
ance. To strike or misuse or speak
harshly to a horse is sacrilege in
their eyes. The horse never permits
a stranger to touch him, and
repays his masters kindness with more
than hlal love or human gratitude. 1t
is a common feat for one of these horses
to run 100 miles with a speed equal to
the finest kentucky thoroughbred, when
making his best time on your race
course.
The Eedouins subsist on milk, fruits,
dates and the flesh of their herds and
flocks. have drank co Tee in CONSTANT
nople and at Paris and have imbibed
the wine of Cypress and of Portugal,
but the coffee as made by these children
of the desert is the most delicious
beverage that ever greeted my palate,
and it is worth a Journey to Syria to
drink a single cup