The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-03-29
A syrian's Description OF the Manners
and Customs of a Romantic Race.

and Customs of a Romantic Race.
ICourier-JournaI IutervievyI
In conversation with a party OF
Syrians at the exposition one of them
gave 10 reporter an account of the
Bedoulns, that mysterious people who
have inhabited the desert Of the Orient
and lived in a uoUadic state for cen
turtles. Their origin Is yelled in OBJ
security, and is older than any civiIiza-
ton. They are as much "A distinct and
peculiar race al the Jews, and have
manners and customs, governmental
and domestic, that characterized them
before the time of the Genghis Kahn OF
Tamerlane. The Syrian, who spoke
OF them, said
They number about half a million Of
different tribes. They never dwell IN
der stationary roof but live in NOV
able tents, the fabric of camel hair or
goat hair, as the tribe is opUlent or in
dlgnaut They roam the desert, re-
naming in a place only as long as the
pasturage continues sufficient for their
fiocks and herds. Each triUe 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
10000 tents, and none less than 200
tents They are governed by no writ
ten law, but are sub ect alone to the
Will and conscience of the sheikhS, who
pay but slight regard to El-horan.
Ihelr wealth Is estimated according 10
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
Che affection Of a tender Christian
father for his o spring.
The children Of the desert are re
markably quick and intelligent. Their
sense Of sight Is wonderfully acute, and
equal To a tield-glass of considerable
power. They excel the American In Iiau
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 caravans
have Travelled the same paths.
They are proverbial for their hOspi-
tally. | 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 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 invokes 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. Nr /
drinks of their pucketO, or ties a hand |
kerchlef TO the cord of their tent, is /
their brother forever. If ones enemy !
him after being their guesS |
they will fight for him to death, or pay |
their last maravedi for a ransom. /
though II beggar the clan.
TO enemies, on the other hand, they .
give no quarter, and in battle they are
rs 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
lorsemanship on the part of the males
and dances and songs by the females,
with a sword dance, in
which both sexes participate and in
which all are exceedingly expert.
a Bedouln is never separated from
his horse. He claims that his horse is
BART of his life, and the purer strains
lave never been sold from the tribes.
All the gold Of Ophir, all the Jewels OF
could not purchase one of the
inc strains of noble horses which they
,Ossess and whose purity has been un-
lehled with colder blood for cent ries.
heir horses are not large, but exquis
tely prOpOrtoned for speed and endur-
nee. To strike or misuse or speak
Iarshly to a horse IS sacrilege in
keir eyes. The horse never permits
stranger to touch him, and
epays his masters kindness with more
han fllal love or human gratitude 1t
) a common feat for one of these horses
D run 100 miles with a speed equal to
he finest Kentucky thoroughbred. when |
laking his best time on your race
curse.
The FedoUins subsist on milk. fruits.
ates and the flesh of their herds and |
Ocks. have drank colee in Constanu-
Ople and at Paris and 7ave imbibed /
ne wine of Cypress and of Portugal.
Ut the coffee as made by these children
f the desert is the most delicious
everage that ever greeted my palate,
nd It IS worth a journey 20 Sy-la 70
rink single cup