The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-09-12
SOME HEROIC ACTS
 OF THE BERBERS A Description of Them by Ion Perdicaris h.
 teresting.
MOST ANCIENT WHITES
Brave and Manly People Pasha's Wish Is Law,
 Never Violated.

The fact that there are many admir- able exceptions being conceded, it may be said that the chief object of the Arabs affection is his gun; next in de- gree is his regard for his horse, and lastly his solicitude for the members of his family. Generally, however, writes Ton Perdicaris in the Youth's Companion, he displays but little con sideration for his wife after the first few months os welded life.
 If the husband is rich he adds to the number of his wives; if he is poor and tires of his wife he may divorce her and take another The woman, it is true, may avail herself of the same remedy, although, as a matter of fact, wives but rarely resort to this solu- tion of their difficulties.
 Sentiment and romance, 1t must be confessed, do not count for much in the Arabs conception of life. Nor is his feeling on the subject of the neighbor- fly relation especially enthusiastic, at least if we are to judge by his own popular sayings or proverbs A favor able expression have often heard the natives of Morocco employ is to the effect that "neighbons serve merely 10 accumulate refuse and to propagate malicious reports"
 Another saying runs: Good morn- ing, neighbor You in your house and I in mine. Go your way while go mine!"
 Like other questions, however, this of neighborliness among the Arabs al- so displays various aspects. For in stance, should a quarrel break out be- tween the inhabitants of two localities the chances are that each village or district will aid it's own men. Or should a stranger establish himself in a village where he has neither rela- tives nor connections he may soon have cause to regret his temerity.
 I remember, among other incidents, that while I was detained by the men of Raisuli's band among the hills of Tsarradan I noticed near my quarters a ruined house, long since abandoned by it's inhabitants.
 On asking for an explanation I was told that this dismantled residence had been erected by a stranger from anoth- CT district, and that the men of Tsar- radan, disappearing of the intrusion, had killed the man himself and driven his family away. Thus the house alone remained, melancholy illustration of the peculiar views of these Berber folk concerning their duty toward this par ticular neighbor.
 I should here explain that although Rasu1i is an Arab chieftain of noble Sherifian family and a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed himself, yet the chieftain's followers are Berbers, the aboriginal inhabitants of Northern Africa, who were driven from the fer tile plains and valleys of their native land by the great Arab invasion of 7O5 A. D.
 These Berbers, one of the most an- cient of the white races, are a brave and manly people, and still break out in violent revolt against their tribal organization and independence.
 They have, however, accepted the Moslem faith, and, like the Arabs, pro- fess great respect for the claims Of hospitality. They rarely refuse food and shelter to him who asks in Gods name; yet such is the indifference of both Berber and Arab to the rights of the neighbor that they will most cheer fully steal each others sheep Or fowls whenever occasion offers or raid the cattle of any neighborlng farmer. whether he be friend Or foe, without the slightest scruple.
 An illustration of their peculiar dls- regard for the interests of members of their own race or community had geatly surprised me on a former oc- casion, when some natives whom I en- ployed as laborers had informed me that their services had been requested by the pasha, or military governor. and that 1t might be several days before they could resume their work with me
 When I asked upon what particular service the pasha required their at- tendance they replied that some offense against the laws having been conmlt- ted by the inhabitants of a neighbor- ing village, contingent had been summoned from various localities. their own among the number with the ob ject of punishing the transgressors. whose village they had orders to burn to the ground.
 I was mortified at the suggestion of so drastic and wholesale an act of vengeance, which must cause such suf- fering to all the inhabitants, the inno- cent as well as the guilty, exposing the aged and helpless, the women and chil- dren, unprotected to the rlgor of the coming winter. My young worlmen. whom I had thought more kind-heart- ed, inferring that my concern was only on their own account, hastened to re- assure me, explaining that it did not matter to them, since although they would draw on pay, yet they would reap sme compensation adding: "Wher- ever there areN weeds to burn, some grass worth moving crops up" By which homely aphorism they meant me