New-York tribune., 1908-04-25

in Arabia Desefta," arranged with Introduction
Charles Scribners Sons.
Abridgnents seldom attract the true book
lover but here is one which deserves 10 be
warmly welcomed without consideration of the
original form of the work. Mr.. Doughty pub
lished the story of his travels in Arabia many
years ago. and that costly edition has long been
out Of print 1t great IN bulk. for in
addition 10 its thrilling narrative of the authors
adventures 1t contained a huge mass Of in
formation specially appealing to readers learned
in archaeology. ethnology, philOlogy and other
branches Of science. In preparing his abridg
nent Mr.. Garnett has drawn only upon Dough-
tvs personal relation. and the general reader
may now enjoy classic of travel unhampered
by the matter which is il must be admitted,
indispensable to the serious student
Mr.. Doughty's admiring editor has not gone
too far in calling the work masterpiece. The
narrative pulsates with life: traveller has
ever surpassed this Englishman's amazing power
Of setting upon the printed page the souls the
characters, the intimate thought, the daily ex
fstence of alien people An inexhaustible
interest in humanity carried him triumphantly
through sufferings few would care to face, pre-
serving in him singular energy and enthusiasm
under stress OF sickness, bitter hunger, deadly
fatigue and danger OF violent death Never
cencealing.> nay. always proclaiming the fact
that he was a Christian, he wandered alone
among the fanatical Arabs of the desert his
own transparent honesty, sincerity and broth
erly kindness calling out whatever was best in
them. This scholar spoke their own tongue and
was learned in their lore; he carried in his
saddlebags store OF healing drugs with which
he was generous he could tell them of strange
countries, things which they liked well enough
to hear OF without trouble themselves for
a;z f,,I S{ty
10 the Arabs which may little avail them-an
ornament bred OF the yawnng superfiuity OF
welfaring mems lives" Friends he made among
then-few, however who were stanch. for il is
g race Of changeabe mind, cOwardly if of hot
temper and always ready to lie stirred TO hatred
Of the Christian. the Nasrany But virtues
there are in them. and he never tires of noting
the wonderful hospitality practised by even the
poorest nounad In his black hair tent on the
lonely desert. Herassed by fear OF robbers,
often bv hunger and thirst, these wanderers
will always share what they have with the
guest often where l passed" says the tray
eller. "a householder called IN from his
booth and when ! sat down. with smiles OF
gentle host he brought forth dates and leban:
this IS the bread and salt which q good man
will offer once and confirm fellowship with the
stranger" once, after two days in the desert
without food water, ''khalil' Doughty and
his TWO native companions came upon Bedouin
host who hastened 10 welcome and relieve them
in characteristic desert fashion. The smiling
householder filled again and again his great
milk bowl before he saw ii drawn low
". drank for the thirst of two days. which could
not soon be allayed. Seeing me drink deepest
Of three the kind host, NGdzib, exhorted me
with i0tyfebig! Take thy evening drink and
he piously lifted the bowl to my lips. Drink
said he for here is the good OF Ullah the
Lord be praised and no lack! And coming from
the southwark ye have passed much weary
country" The narrative continues:
We lay down TO rest ourselves An hour !ater
this generous maaztb and the saepheFd is sg
bore in mighty charger OF rice ana the az th
mutton heaped upon it, their hospitallty OF Th rie
esd 1eseat Ws ish is set upon the carpet or else
piece OF cloth that no fallen EoIseis Isa,t . De
t-odder down in the earth and II they see but q
little milk spilled (n this everlasting dearth and and IN n
disence of all things any born a sentence
Of hs Ne3y 6lans nj saTnF sRt n % AyqkdE tI1as k
0o sHMe6p enah Rise take S,' Sou5, meat Tne We an ne
fbe lord give thee nfe-' The host left US to eat
The guest 1--WE have seem should depart when when
the m ap6 i6s {ne dan Rof n She Khaa But
if they be his friends and !, Is the b season s OF
gGod M nGu1gs0 Sis tara have poured them out
araught our Beny Salem maazib was OF no = haia ar
geatiy deIayed us MY wife" he said lis rocking
sefnilE, have patience ll!i Ifie putte
she NAV pour you out little leban; you twain are
F3eduv but this Meshedy Is not as We one ti won
10 walk ali day the wilderness and taste no'h.
ne sotourning in Arabia: the desert land howeu
again with milk, and say With bo"rlg n sUSsei
Sahsot 'TIsffbbah!'' (cries the good man with the
hollow voiced franchise Of the dry DESERT lake
thy morning drink -, ,.. ,osc,.aI,,x,
since of this / been often questioned IN T1u-
FoPe sno IS OF the worsied boothshe gentle
,as1neD OF messengers and strangers in a and fulI
OF misery and fear, We have seen TO he religious
This is a glimpse OF the pleasant side OF
IybaIirs adventures In Arabia. and there are
many like IL But always murder waited not
60, .vav Even on this journey his two com
,a,,ops had determined TO abandon him to die
~ thirst in the gaunt lava beds OF the desert
.rbs starry of their treachery Is one that hoIus
-, ,.ader In a nerve wrenchng suspense. IL
q, nil, one moreover Of many episodes wherein
,.,tc,sr,, or brutal greed threatened the Eng
,-,,on,s life The chapters describing his
o,,,,rp i'm the oasis towns are full OF eXciihs
,,,Io,,s. and the work ending with KhaiiTs
- .. iyiitzstion shows him fallen upon q
hazard more startling than any tla' iau So"
A rroup Of wretches hlled Win lust
., hlood and of loot had him In their grip
sheriff had the knife again IN his ms hann anu
and his old gall rising: nothsag; or now will
hast Where MaabubT Whom m ,aIniness aI .ass
np sai s,nce yester-evening: IN nm R.menber the
and lnepIi'ussl sslt which have eaten tTSs. 1RSth
STean SHOW IT all to me OF Nv bvstanders
vii Stay thee wish shis aovf1s places some of them
gathered t 81 ms hack him in rnorseis te 80. IN
enef eTne4 What hinders? Fellows ie' u'