Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-11-07

women and children. as many as each
beast eau carry. A camel can bear
on. his back a whole family and all
their, belongings. AS the ship OF the
desert, rocks his slow, Flooding way
over the stony plain. the riders are
jolted; vigorously back and forth, some
times being jerked suddenly forward
or: backward, clnging to each other
while their goods dangle to and fro.
rsttling and changing in musical dis
| c6rdance' as. accompaniment to the
low humming OF lullabies by the
mother to little brown babies in their
arms. !.i.::
| 1.-The gospel statement Of the earth
! " cares of man would have to be
modified in the case of the Bedouins.
| for it is not even simple question
of What: shall We eat and where
withal shall, we be clothed?" for the
latter ;isi;of but slight concern to the
Bedoliin. Having but one garment,
and never removing it day or night,
tGs soiled or ragged condition being
no, element of disqualification, its tit
or style unchanging, this matter OF
| clothes. causes him not one moment
81 worry. The garments of the men
aHd women have a great resemblance.
| bGth men and women are highly dis
5sured By their hideous tattooing on
i3ls ari aims.
i3sdouin laws Of politeness forbid
tlo mention of the name woman.
Marc. are three things unmention.
.tla--pig, dog and woman. If a man
nus: speak of his wife, he calls her
''.he Thing and begs your pardon for
Mentioning her at all in your presence.
Mhen man is asked how many
children ne has, he only gives the
ungaoer Of his boys, never breathing
t1a iac: tnat he has any girls. Hav-
Ing only daughters is spoken of as
LAYING no children" The Bedouin.
fa~ias nc respect for his wife, does
.st::. hesitate to divorce her for any
srEi3a o2 his own.
= ono approaches an encampment
III courteous way, speaking the lam
s1a.;e aud understanding every detail
Z .929eQin etiquette, one receives a
ccI5, al irritation to enter and rest In
| 10 shade, and coffee is at once Of
,3reG ma and sumptuous meal Is
or-ra.caa Coz the unknown visitor.
Ih2 needs Of horse or camel are also
attended 70 carefully.
Outside the tent tho men enjoy a
rf-1ck2 ana chat, and their inevitable
c:Gac. SQuatting in circle around
shs camp fire, they fash their long
y,ne. aud listen to the oldtime STORY
teller Ills lengthy stories OF adveh-
sr:-s or fables OF weirdly imaginary
Lots hold the company sDellbound.
! a sleepless Night.
NJ. Ievrth. when night is far spent
,ad INC last Pickering ember among
;i,o ashes has died out and stiffness
orarails throughout the camp, the
sra=-eler also :retires to his tent, his
mind 1lled with variety of interest
Ing pictures OF the strange life he has
sotered upon. But alas! trivial ac-
compartments to night in a Bedouin
eacamDment which do not in the least
disturb the native, to that life born.
are cause OF great annoyance to the
visitor and give him sleepless night.
! Near by his tent are the interesting
noises of the continual movements or
the hundreds of camels around the
camp. the bleating Of sheep, the bark
;! Ing of dogs, the braying OF donkeys
/ and the stamping of horses hoofs, all
Z! OF which goes on all night long. Fur
;; Their off are the chirping OF crickets,
the croaking Of frogs and the uncom-
Portable sounds Of the shrieking OF
iackals and hyenas. But these are
minor troubles to those within the
tent. Here flies, mosquitoes and sand
flies are his closest companions, and
thickly inhabit his lodging. The heat,
which to the Bedouin is a source OF
comfort, grows insufferable to the poor
} stranger. These are the drawbacks
| to an insight. into. Bedouin life.
Long ere daybreak be is awakened
from a morning nap--at last attained
through sheer eXhaustion-by the
| screams of the children all around the
camp. Life is astir, and the work OF
the women has begun. And thus be-
gins another day in the Bedouin camp
| to be spent exactly like yesterday and
and the day before, and so. on for a
succession Of days, weeks, months and
wears. While life shall last the Be
douin knows no change, nor. does e
| wish Tor any.
EYANGEllNE BEN.oLIEL.