The Red Cloud chief., 1897-04-02
THE BEDOUIN AT HOME.

Arabs OF the Desert and Their Hospi-
tally.
An English artist, r. Talbot Kelly,
writes for the Century a paper entitled
I'm the Desert with the Bedouin." In
describing his visit to an Arab chief
Mr.. Kelly says: On reaching the camp
my reception was most gratifying-a
perfect blending of respectful solicit
tude and hospitable welcome. After
kissing my hand, the sheik assisted me
to dismount, bidding me welcome and
saying that my visit brought a blessing
on his house. Conducting me to my
tent, he added: This house Is yours
and all its contents; do what you Will
with it and with us your servants'-a
truly biblical greeting n one which
Immediately suggested the days OF
Abraham, an Illusion heightened when
water was brought and hands, face and
feet were washed before / was left to
rest on the cushions in the tent and
the sheik retired to prepare h 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-
ty of the host heaps favor after favor
upon the guest, without stint or limi-
tation. Probably the first distinct i'm
preston / received from the Bedouins
was the close resemblance of their life
to that of the old testament times.
Their loose, flowing robes added to
their naturally tall and imposing APP
aud thair ctrOnU maiQltir
faces, slightly Jewish in type. together
with their gracious old-wOrld courte-
sizes, irresistibly suggested the patri-
archs of old. Their lives, thoughts,
sayings and occupations remained I'M
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 rovers
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
IT. 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 five feet or so at the
sides. The tent cloth was, as usual,
made of goat hair and parti colored 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-
MED by a family. The furniture Is SIM
nile. Rugs are spread over the sand and
reclining cushions scattered about
them. In the corner Is a zeer, or large
water pot, and by 1t a cubi yeh. or
drinking cup, Of brass or copper. Round
the side Of the tent Is a row of painted
boxes. In which are packed the house,
hold goods and chattels when moving.
while a few quantity wrought lamps
and. half buried in the sand, a large
earthen 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 t%rappings: and these are SO
highly priced by them that money can
not buy the simplest product of their
wivea' industry. though they may give
them freely In token OF friendship. Cen
orally married to n wife, the Bedouin
regards her and her children with .
devotion not general among orientals.