The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-09-01
THIEVISH ARABS.
NATURAL BORN ROBBERS OF
THE HOLY LAND.
n Curious Custom Which Sometimes
saves the Victim From Their
Rapacity - An Ameri-
cans Experience.

have ridden on horseback more than
4OO miles through Palestine and Syria
on my way to Asia Minor. On this
long tour, with the aid of an excellent
dragoman, 1 have not only been
enabled to visit tho principal cities
and towns of these historically inter
esting countries of which 1 have writ
ten, bnt | have had occasion to study
the habits and customs of the wild
Bedouin tribes that live their un.
settled lives in these valleys and along
these mountain slopes. On the west
ern side of the Jordan River there are
many OF these rowing bodies of men.
women and children, divided into diff
ferent family tribes, but on the east
ern side of the river there are only n
few tribes, much larger than the
others and very much wilder.
Each tribe has q sheik or prince
who Is final authority on all questions.
and often has the power of life and
death. This Office is hereditary, as a
rule. When an election is necessary
1t is done by voca. declaration, must
IN ali cases be unanimous, and must
be endorsed by the Government at
Constantinople.
The head of each tribe is legally re.
CURED to pay to the Sultan one Turk
ish pound (nearly five dollarsl for
each man who Is able to 20 to war,
which amount, paid yearly, rids these
men from military duty under the
Government. Certain districts of
country are allowed these tribes where
their tents and herds are USUALLY
found, but frequently they roam in
other parts of the land, carving on
Their independent raids until they are
driven INTO their own regions by
Turkish guns. Their tents aIe GEN
orally made of the hair Of goats, In.
genlously woven, and their food COZ
slsts nearl Y altogether of bread made
INTO thin waters, looking very much
like sheets of send paper, butter made
from the goat and buffalo COW, and
fish, which abound in NIL tho streams
The Bedouins are native born rob
bers, and it is always unsafe for any
one to pass through their country un.
guarded. few months ago = par!y
was visiting the Jordon and Dead Sea
with the usual guard; but four of the
number separated from the others.
and in less Than two hours they were
selzed, robbed Of their horses, money
and clothing. A most pitiable set
they were, l am told, when they
reached their tents after night.
MIR. Rolla Floyd, who is the only
American dragoman in Palestine and
Syria, entertained me for tevcral
days by recital OF some Of his early
experiences during thirty years
stay IN the country. Not lo1g since,
while accompanying n number of
ladies and gentlemen through the
desert, IN the neighborhood of ancient
Shechem, noise was heard in the
hills near by; and on turning, he
found they we're being surrounded by
forty or fifty Bedouins, beaded by
their sheik. Of course, there was
great terror among the party, and fer
n while MIR. Floyd was stricken with
fear. Rut fortunate thought oc
Cured to the dragoman. it is n GUS
tom among these wild tribes to be.
friend any one who is in trouble If no
reaches the sheik, and, geizin9 his
belt, exciaIms 81 am Your guest"
While demands were beng made
upon Mr. Floyd and those under his
protection and the robbers were in the
act OF carrying out their desires. be
rushed forward and, taking stronu
grip upon the belt o. tue sheik. ex.
Claimed, IN Arabic: "rhese are all
your guests. This acted like magic
The robbery was ordered off; the sheik
drew his sword md in the most pomp-
GUS manner announced to his men that
the party was under his protection and
guidance, and, leading the wav, he
guided tLem for hours throuah the
desert
When was suddenly approached by
band of these barbarians rt 10
O'Clock Mt night, in the wild country
east OF the Jordan, Ly the moonlight,
saw there was no belt 10 seize. As
nll Of them we're clothed in single and
uuadorned galments, ] rcsoTted to an
other device, which proved Just as Of
fcctive, though lot 80 diguifed, and
| which put me quite distance from
them In very short time.
Mr.. Carey, whose lifelong residence
ia Palestine and Syria furnishes him
I with IL fund OjiniOrmation on this sub
3ect That IS possessed by few, gave me
an account OF n personal episode With
the BedOuins which illustrates their
exceeding kind. heurtedness nftcr they
have robbed you of everything that
they can lay their bands on.
Mr.. Carey left his home in Neblous
on missionary tour amougt the mount
airs once owned by the tribe OF Reu-
ben, east OF the Jordan River. After
crossing the stream lac had not zone
many miles when he was surrounded
by IL score OF these men, who, Lifting
him on his bIust, stripped him OF his
clothing, mud, while no gat on cool
rock near by aud watched the perform
unce, they examined carefully all OF
the garments, ripping opening the
Innings of his coat, and after they had
taken everything, even his pocket
knife, they tossed him his clothing and
politely informed him that he could
go his way
As it was now late in The evenin-,
be told them that he could not con.
tinuc his journey alter dark without
losing his way, and requested that
they would take care OF him until the
next morning. They Immediately and
nIndlv agreed 10 do l,ie bct,,.a h;..