The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-07-23
THIEVISH ARABS.
NATURAL BORN ROBBERS OF
THE HOLY LAND.
A Curious Custom which soiaess mes
Saves the Victim From Their
Rapacity - An Ameri-
cans Experience.

/ NV h.tito hitttlIt IOYIln
on my way to Asia Minor. On this
long tour, with the aid of an excellen,
dragoman, l have not only been
enabled TO visit the principal cities
and towns of these historically inter.
esting countries of which I have writ.
ten, but 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 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 all cases be unanimous, and must
be endorsed by the Government at
Constautnople.
The head of each tribe is legally re.
quired to pay to the Sultan one Turk.
ish pound (nearly tive dollars) for
each man who is able TO 90 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, carrying on
their independent raids until they are
driven into their own regions by
Turkish guns. Their tents are gen.
orally made of the hair of goats, in
/ geniously woven, and their food con-
sists nearly altogether of bread made
into thin waters, looking very much
like sneets of sand paper, butter made
from the goat and buffalo COW, and
fish. which abound in all the streams.
The Bedouins are native-born rob-
bers, aud ii is always unsafe for any
one to pass through their country un-
guarded A few months ago = party
was visiting the Jordon and Dead Sea
with tho usual guard; but four of the
number separated from the others,
and in less Than two hours they were
seized, robbed OF their horses, money
and clothing A most pitiable set
they were, i am told, when they
reached their tents after night.
Mr.. Rolla Floyd, whoA is the only
american dragomsarin Palestine sad
Syria, entertained me for several
days by recital OF some of his early
experiences during a thirty years
stay in the country. Not loag since,
while accompanying 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 were being surrounded by
forty or fifty Bedouins, headed by
their sheik. OF course, there was
great terror among the party, and fer
A while MIR. Floyd was stricken with
fear. But fortunate thought oc.
Cured to the dragoman. 1t is Gus
tom among these wild tribes to be.
friend any one who is in trouble il he
reaches the sheik, and, seizing his
oelt, exclalms: al am your guest"
While demands were being made
upon Mr.. Floyd and those under his
protection and the robbers were in the
act of carrying out their desiles, he
rushed forward and, taking a strong
| grip upon the belt of the sheik, ex-
| claimed, in Arabic: "These are all
your guests" This acted like magic.
The robbery was ordered off; the sheik
drew his sword and in the most pomp-
Gus manner announced to his men that
the party was under his protection and
guidance, and. leading the way, he
guided them for hours through the
| desert.
When was suddenly approached by
band of these barbarlans at 10
o'clock Mt night, in the wild country
east of the Jordan, by the moonlight,
l saw there was no belt TO seize. AS
all Of them we're clothed In single and
unadorned gam ments, / resorted TO an
other device, which proved just as et-
fective, though not SO dignitied, and
which put me quite IL distance from
tnen III IL very SNORT time.
Mr.. Carey, whose lifelong residence
in Palestine and Syria furnishes him
with Il fund dofinformation on this sub
iect that is possessed by few, gave me
an account of personal episode with
the Bsdouins which illustrates their
exceeding kind.heartedness after they
have robbed You of everything that
they can lay their hands on.
Mr.. Carey left his home in Nablous
on missionary tour among the mount
aims once owned by the tribe OF Reu-
ben, east OF the Jordan River. After
crossing the stream he mad not gone
many miles when he was surrounded
by a score OF these men, who, lifting
him of his beast, stripped him of his
clothing, and, while he sat on cool
rock near by and watched the perform
ance, they examined carefully all of
the garments, ripping opening the
Innings of his coat, and after they had
| taken everything, even his pocket