The Brookhaven leader., 1885-11-12
THE CHILDREN OF The DESERT.
A Syrian's Description OF the Manners
and Customs of a Romantic Race.
TColrer, ,JoITuRl Iut4rviewl


ICourier- journal Iutervewl
In conversation with a party of
Syrians at the exposition ono OF them
gave to reporter an account OF the
Bedouins, that mysterious people who
have inhabited tho desert Of the Orient
and lived in nomadic state for CEN
turies. Their origin is veiled in OBJ
scurity, and is older than any ciyiliza-
ton. They are as much distinct and
peculiar race as the Jews, and havo
manners 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 million of
different tribes. They never dwell un-
der u stationary roof, but live in NOV
able tents, the fabric of camel hair or
goat hair, as the tribe is opulent or in
dignant They roam the desert, re-
manning in a place only as long as the
pasturage continues sufficient for their
hocks and herds Zach tribe is gov
erned by sheikh, who has auto
cratic power over life, liberty. and
property. rome of the tribes are
powerful, and number as many as
10, 900 tents, and none less than 200
tents They are governed by no writ
ten law, but arc sub. .ect alone to the
will and conscience of the sheikhs, who
pay but slight regard to El-kOran.
Their wealth is estimated according to
the number o; their cattle, and their
power according to the number OF their
horses. Theirs are the finest horses on
the globe and they the best riders. Their
care and attention for their horses equal
the affection of tender christian
father for his offspring.
THE children of the desert are re-
markably quick and intelligent TheiI
sense of sight is wonderfully acute, and
e:,ual to q held-glass of considerable
power. They excel the 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, Ell though immense caravans
have travelled the same paths.
They are proverbial for their hospi-
tality. lived with them for four years,
| and they were necessary to me in pro-
tecting my silk farms, some hundreds
of miles in the interior from Damascus.
They would protect and guard guest
from harm at the expense OF their lives
and fortunes. Their tents are sanctu
| airy for any man, no matter what hls
crime, who invokes their protection. II
| the host be shiekh or shepherd, 1t is all
the same, the whole tribe would spill
tho last drop of blood in defense
of the guest, though he were the lowest
outcast and most miserable beggar that
! To-, Rpaanh flf n 4
| is the greatest of crimes, and they look
upon it with emotions of horror. Who
ever eats of their salt or their bread, Ol
drinks of their pucketo, or ties hand
kerchief to the cord Of their tent, is
their brother forever. If ones enemy
recaptures him after being their gucs,
they will fight for him to death, or pay
their last maravedi for ransom,
though it beggar the clan.
TO enemies, on tine other hand, they
give no quarter, and in battle they are
as savage as they are brave, and COM
NIT deeds OF atrocity In the hour of
victory that makes humanity Shudder.
They celebrate their victory by feats of
horsemanship on the part of the males
and dances and songs by the females,
conclud ng with q 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 purer strains
have never been sold from the tribes.
| All the gold of Ophir, all the Jewels of
! Golconda could not purchase one of the
| tine strains of noble horses which they
| ,ossess and whose purity has been un-
denlei with colder blood for cent rics.
Their horses are not large. but exquS-
itely proportioned for speed and endur-
anco. To strike or misuse or speak
harShly to q horse is sacrilege in
their eyes. The horse never permits
| stranger to touch him, and
repayI his masters kindness with more
than tilal love or human gratitude. 1t
| is a common feat for one of these horses
to run 100 miles with speed equal to
the finest kentucky thoroughbred, when
making his best time on your race
cours.
"lhe Iedouins subsist on milk, fruits,
dates and the flesh of their herds and
f.ocks. have drank coffee in onstanti-
nople and at Paris aud have imbihed
the wine of Cypress and of Portugal.
but the coffee as made by those children
of the desert is the most delicious
beverage that ever greeted my palate,
and it is worth Journey to Syria to
drink single cup"
| Boi O. Exp'o. onA