The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-04-02
THE nEpoulN an HOME.
Arabs Of the Desert aud Their uo.pl.
faIlFw


tally.
An English artist. Il. Talbot Kelly
writes for the Century a paper entitled
In the Desert with the Bedouln." In
describing his visit TO an Arab chlei
Mr. Kelly says: On reaching the camp
my reception was most gratifylng-a
perfect blending OF respectful sollci.
tude and hospltable welcome. After
kissing my hand. the sheik assisted me
10 dismount. bidding me welcome and
saying that my visit brought a blessing
on his house Conducting me 10 my
tent. be added: This house IL yours
and all its contents; DO what you will
with Il and with Ne your servants
truly biblical greeting and one which
Immediately suggested the days Of
Abraham. an illusion heightened when
water was brought aud hands. face and
feet were washed before I was left to
rest on the cushions IN the tent and
the sheik retired 10 prepare the even.
Ing meal. Under the Mohammedan
code three days hospitality Is a right
wayfarers may demand. though In the
case OF accepted friends the royal boun-
" OF the host heaps favor after favor
upon the guest. without stint or llml.
tation, Probably the first distinct i'm.
preston / received from the Bedoulni
vas the close resemblance OF their life
20 that Of the old testament times
Their loose. flowing robes added to
their naturally tall and imposing ap.
poarance. and their strong. majestic
faces. slightly Jewish In type. together
with their gracious old-world courte.
sizes. irrcsistibly suggested the patri.
arehs Of old. Their lives. thoughts
sayings and occupations remained IN.
changed through all these centuries.
and the incidents and conversations Of
my daily intercourse with them were
always Abrahamic In character.
Though nomads the Arabs are roveu
from necessity rather than from choice
and where fodder and water are found
In sufficient abundance they form per.
manent camps. surrounding their tents
with a compound OF durra stalks and
frequently building stone or mud
lodges for their guests When on the
march they are content with very small
tents. easily packed and carried. but
ir their permanent camps their homes
are Of regal proportions. The one !
occupied covered some 1000 square feet
and was about eleven feet high In the
center. sloping TO ave feet or 20 AZ the
sides. The tent cloth was. AZ usual
made OF goat hair and partl eolored In
broad stripes OF black. green. maroon.
blue and white. while from the seams
depended tassels from which other
cloths were hung TO divide the tents
into separate apartments when occu.
pied by a family. The furniture Il sim.
pie Rugs are spread over the sand and
reclining cushions scattered about
them. In the corner Ia q seer. or large
water pot. and by Il cubl yeh. OF
drinking cup. Of brass or copper. Round
the side Of the tent Il a row OF painted
boxes. In which are packed the house.
hold goods and eha,tels when moving
while a few quantity wrought lamps
and. half buried In the sand. a LARGE
oarihon bowl used as a fireplace. com.
plete the list Very domestic In their
habits. everything about them has per.
sonal associations The tent cloths are
spun. dyed and woven by their women
and children. as also are their saddle
cloths and trapplngs. and these aro Sc
highly priced by them that money can.
not buy the simplest product OF their
wives INDUSTRY, though they may give
them freely IN token o. friendship. Gen.
orally married 70 one wife. the Bedouir
regards her and her children with a
devotion not general among orlen,als