Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-12-27
TRAITS OF THE ARAB.
IMPARTIAL HOSPITALITY IS ONE OF
THE MOST MARKED.

An Incident of Real Life That strsk-
With which n Guest. Even Thoaxh
He lie an Enemy, Is Regarded.
y cher OF a party Of the hey OF
Tripolrs troops while pursued by
Arabs on a certain occasion during
the year 1904 lost his way and was
benighted near the cnemy's camp
Passing the door OF tent which was
open. he stopped his horse and i'm
plored assistance. being exhausted 10y
fatigue and thirst. The warlike Arab
babe his enemy enter his tent with con-
idence and treated him with all the
respect and hospitality for which his
people are so famous The highest
among them. like the patrlarchs Of old,
wait upon their guest. \ man of rank
when visited 10y n stranger quickly
fetches a lamb from his flock and kills
ii. and his wife superintends her wO-
men In dressing II i'm the best manner
With some Of the Arabs the primitive
custom SO often spoken OF IN the Bible
Of washing the feet is yet followed.
and this compliment is performed by
the head OF the family. Their supper
was the best Of the fatted lamb roast
ed. their dessert dates and dried fruit
and the Arabs wife. TO honor more
particularly her husbands guest. set
before him 4 dish Of "bOSeen" o. her
own making. This was n preparation
Of flour and water kneadcd into n
paste which, being half baked. was
broken into pieces and kneaded again.
with new milk, oil and salt. and gar
nished with "kadeed." or mutton dried
and seasoned I'm the highest manner.
Though these two chiefs were op-
| posed i'm war, they talked with candor
and friendship TO each other. recount
ing the achievements OF themselves
and their ancestors. when a sudden
/ paleneSS OverSpread the countenancc Of
the host. He started from his seat and
retired. and in Il few minutes sent
word to his guest that his bed was
prepared and all things were ready for
/ his repose; that he was not well him.
self and coulC. not attend TO finish the
repast; that he had examined the
MOor's horse and found Il too much OK
L II
Journey the next day. but that before
sunrise an able horse. with every &C
commodation. would be ready at the
door of the tent. where he would meet
him and expect him TO depart with all
speed. The stranger. not able to &C
count for the conduct OF his host. re-
tired to rest.
An Arab awakened him IN time TO
take refreshments which had been pre-
/ pared for him before his departure.
but he saw none OF the family until
he perceived on reaching the door OF
the tent the master OF IL holding the
bride Of his horse and supporting his
stirrups for him TO mount. which IS
done among the Arabs rs the last ofTer
or friendship. No sooner was the Moor
mounted than his host announced TO
him that in the whole OF the enemy's
camp lie had not SO great an enemy TO
dread as himself
Last night" said he. lin the ex-
PLOTS Of your ancestors you discovered
10 me the murderer OF my father.
There lie all the habits he was slain
in (Which were at that moment brought
20 the door of the tcnO. over which In
the presence OF my family I have
many times sworn TO revenge his death
and 10 seek the blood Of his murderer
from sunrise TO sunset The sun has
not yet risen-the sun Will be no more
than risen when / pursue you. after
you have in safety quilted my tent.
where, fortunately for you, II is against
our religion TO modest you after your
having sought my protection and found
refuge there, but all my obligations
cease rs soon as we part. and from
that moment you must consider me as
! one determined on your destruction in
! whatever part or at whatever distance
we may meet again. You have not
mounted q horse inferior 10 the one
that stands ready for myself: on its
! swiftneSs surprising that OF mine de-
ponds one of our lives, or both"
After saying this he shook his adver-
sary by the hand and parted from him.
The Moor, prOhting 10y the few mo-
ments he had in advance, reached the
| bey's army in time TO escape his pur-
Suer, who followed him closely, as near
the enemy's camp as he could with
safety. This was certainly n striking
trait OF hospitality, but II was no more
than every Arab and every Moor in the
same circumstances would do.-New
York Herald.