The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-03
THE BEDOUIN AT HOME.
Their Life Bears the Closest Resem-
blance to That OF the Patriarchs In
Old Testament Times.

An English artist. II. Talbot Kelly, writes
for the February Century paper entitled
I'm the Desert With the Bedouin." for which
the author furnishes number Of striking IL
Illustrations. In describing his visit 10 an
Arab chief, Mr.. Kelly says: On Preaching
camp my reception was most gratifying-a
perfect blending of respectful solicituds and
hospitable welcome. After kissing my hand,
the sheik assisted me to dismount, bidding
me welcome, and saying that my visit
brought blessing on his house. Conducting
me to my tent he added, "This house is
yours, and all il contains; do what you will
with it and with US your servants'-a truly
biblical greeting, and one which Immediately
suggest ted 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 i'm the tent,
and the sheik retired to prepare the evening
meal.
Under the Mohammedan code, three days
hospitality is n right wayfarers may demand,
though in the case of accepted friends the
royal bounty Of the host heaps favor after ia
vor upon the guest, without stint or limita-
tion.
Probably the first distinct impression re-
ceived from the Bedouin was the close -esenl-
blance of their life to that of the Old Testa-
ment times. Their loose, flowing robes added
to their naturally tall and imposing appear
ance, and their strong, majestic faces,
slightly Jewish in type, together with their
gracious old-wor Id courteses, irresistibly
suggested the patriarchs Of old. Their lives.
thoughts, sayings and occupations remain
unchanged through all these centuries, and
the incidents and conversations of my daily
hamc in character.
Though nomads, the Arabs are rovers from
necessity rather than from choice, and where
fodder and water are found in sufficient abun-
dance they form permanent camps SURROUND.
ing their tents with 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 in their permanent camps their homes
Of regal proportions. The one 1 occupied COW
cred some two thousand 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 partly
co.ored in broad stripes of black, green, ma
room. blue and white while from the seams
depended tassels from which other cloths are
hung TO divide the tent into separate apart
ments when occupied by family.
The furniture is simple. Rugs are spread
over the sand, and reclining cushions scat
tered about them. In the corner is a zeer, or
large water pot, and by 1t n cubi yeh or
drinking cup of brass or copper. Round the
side Of the tent is row of painted boxes in
which are packed the household goods and
cbattels when moving, while a few quantity
wrought lamps, and, half buried in the sand.
n large carthern bowl used as n fireplace
complete the list.
Very domestic in their habits, everything
about them has personal associations. The
tent cloths are spun. dyed and woven by
their women and children, IA also are their
saddle cloths and trappings and these are so
highly priced by them that money cannot buy
the simplest product of their wives indus
try, though they may give them freely in
token of friendship. Generally married to
one wife, the Bedonin regards hcr and her
children with devotion not general among
Orientals and believe that the Arab word
watan Is the only real equivalent in any Ian
guage for the English word home"