Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-08
CAMPING In CANAAN.
The Talmage Tour in the Holy Land
Presents Queer Features,
NEAT AND DRINK WITH ARABS,
In Oriental Style, With Good Food and an
Abundance Of 1t.
7 AND DRINK WITH ARABS,
HAILIEG-PLACE AND JACOBS WELL

BEYRoUT, December 23.-We originally
had set aside six consecutive days for our
stay at Jerusalem, but on the evening OF the
second day after our return from Bethle-
hem DR.. Talmage gave instructions to begin
the encampment on the following morning.
He did this for two reasons: to avoid travel
on Sunday, to which he is uncompromis-
ingly opposed, and to improve to the very
best advantage the delightful weather we
were enjoying, before the rainy season
should set in. In Palestine the rainy
season lasts two months, during which
time there is an unremitting supply OF
moisture. sometimes present in the form of
fine spray, at other times falling in heavy
rain. Whether in the one form or the other
the atmospheric condition is that of per-
petusl dampness, making travelling exceed
inglv unpleasant. We had provided our
selves with an abundance of waterproof
garments, and our supply of boots and shoes
was equal to every possible condition OF
weather. At the same time DR.. Talmage
aud his travelling companions were anxious
TO make the most of the pleasant days
present to US, not knowing how much
longer they would last. So orders were
issued to prepare camp, as the following
dav we were to start for the Jordan. Camp
ing out in the Holy Land is an experience
which will bear description.
HARD CARAVAN TO MOVE.
The camp is not as simple an arrangement
as the uninitiated may suppose. In appear
ance it is a regular caravan moving slowly,
not faster than three miles an hour, and
rarely travelling longer than seven hours a
day. The persons constituting the member
ship of our camp were the five in our party,
three Of whom were ladies, one dragoman
or guide, one sheik, who was our protection
against Bedouin marauders, a cook, two
walters and seven muleteers. Sometimes,
but not ALWAYS, the sheik had a Nubian
negro to carry his double-barreled
gun, which he always kept loaded
and ready for business. OF animals
we had eight horses, nine mules and
five donkeys, making in all a total of 1S
persons and p animals. Besides the per-
sonal baggage OF the tourists, consisting OF
trunks, valises, etc., there were in our camp
a complete outfit of beds and bedding, five
tables, a dozen or so of Turkish rugs, stove
snd q full supply of cooking utensils, an
elaborate table service, all requirements for
the toilet, Kitchen tent, a saloon tent, three
sleeping tents and two smaller tents, an
abundance of provisions and any quantity
of smaller items too numerous to mention.
The camp is divided into two parts, one
travelling for the accommodation OF the
sightseers, the other to cater to their DeceSsl-
ties of reireshment and repose. OF these the
former is the smaller, consisting only OF the
tourists themselves, the dragoman, the sheik
and two walters, who carry with them the
lunch tent.
ONE PREPARATORY SECTION.
These two divisions of the camp never
move together, the larger one of them pre-
ceding the tourists in order 10 make ready
Tor the night. As soon as the party arrives
at a camping place after the days travel,
they dismount and repair to their tents,
where they find everything in readiness for
their comfort. The sleeping tents are richly
decorated with Egyptian needlework, are
carpeted with soft, thick Turkish rugs laid
on the bare ground. and each contains one
or two iron bedsteads, table, furniture for
the toilet, candlesticks, etc. 1t presents a
homelike, inviting appearance.
The tourist recline while they eat and
drink in Oriental fashion, and help them
selves to what lies before them on plates of
agateware. Everything served is fresh and
excellent in quality, and there is plenty of
1t, but it is found tiresUme by the Americans
vino long for variety. The regular repeti-
ton of the same dishes soon so pals on the
appetite that the mere thought of chicken
and eggs cause conYulsions of the stomach.
While the tourists are taking their lunch
the larger part of the encsmpment, which
is not packed IN the morning until after the
tourists have left passes by and proceeds to
the next camping place. AT 1:30 travel is
resumed. Three hours more in the saddle,
and one feels ready for another meal.
ALWAYS A GOOD DINNER.
Even the most dyspeptic person is willing
for dinner, which happily is invariably a
good one. Excellent hot soup is followed
with roast meat and vegetables. Next come
roast fowl and salad. Capital pudding is
then served. Nuts, raisins, oranges, pome-
granates and other fruits; cheese and Turk
ish coffee end the repast After dinner a
lively bonfire is started, around which the
tourists assemble and rehearse the scenes
and incidents of the day. At the shoes
left in front of the tents for the porter to
blacken are the sure indications that the
weary tourists have retired for the night.
Pass the camp at any time of the night,
however, and three figures are seen to hover
around the campfire. They are shabbily-
dressed guard, it is true, but, as they are
armed to the teeth with guns, pistols, bowie
knives, in one word with a whole arsenal of
weapons, bold indeed must be the robbers
who would dare to attack these grim-visaged
warriors. They come quietly to the camp
about in the evening, their services having
been secured from among the principal men
in the locality where the party happens to
be, and remain on duty until the camp is
alive with preparations for the next davis
journey, when they take their departure as
quietly as they came.
THE FEENISHED ARABS,
All the attendants in camp are Arabs.
Most Of them understand but two English
words, "good" and Finish, 4" this pronounced
''feenish." They say good" when you
either mount or dismount from your horse
Caressingly they pat the animal, and Mt the
same time throw into their pronunciation of
the word the two meanings: the horse is a
good one; don't you think he is good one?
Your attendant says flemish" when YOU
ask him for something of which the supply
is exhausted. He is mirthtul Individual,
and always accompanies his declaration
with a grin which says plainly enough:
''You have already all you can get" OF
course it is awkward not to be able to make
your wants and wishes known bv means Of
language, to the man whose business 1t is to
learn and perform them, but the situation
is relieved by his good nature, which have
found to be constant and Interchangeable. Ii
you scold him he takes no offense, because
be does not understand one word you utter,
and If you bring whole torrent of obiura-
tions with the proper accompaniments OF
gesture and facial expression to bear on him,
he still smiles in real or affected ignorance
that you are angry with him. 'TwouId be a
cruel and unreasonable mistake, if not an
impossible thing, to cherish resentment
against the most amiable Of servitors.
ExcESSTvFTv ORTTcTNc