The searchlight., 1911-11-10

hHNa boNho 70 SDlttu DtGulUk. On
this soft seat are safely deposited the
women and children, as many as each
beast can carry. camel can bear
on his back whole family and all
their belongings. AS the ship OF the
desert" rocks his slow, plodding way
over the stony plain. the riders are
jolted vigorously back and forth, some
times being jerked suddenly forward
or backward. clinging to each other
while their goods dangle to and fro,
rattling and changing In a musical dis
cordance as accompaniment to the
low humming of lullabies by the
mother to little brown babies in their
arms.
The gospel statement OF the earth.
ly cares Of man would have to be
modified In the case OF the Bedouins,
for 1t Is not even a simple question
OF What shall We eat and where
withal shall We be clothed?" for the
latter Is OF but slight concern to the
Bedouin. Having but one garment
and never removing II day or night,
Its soiled or ragged condition being
no element of disqualification. its tit
or style unchanging. this matter OF
clothes causes him not one moment
OF worry. The garments of the men
and women have a great resemblance.
Both men and women are highly dis
figured by their hideous tattooing on
face and arms.
Bedouin laws of politeness forbid
the mention OF the name woman.
There are three things unmention-
able-pig. dog and woman. II man
must speak of his wife. he calls her
the thing" and begs your pardon for
mentioning her at all In your presence.
When man is asked how many
children he has, he only gives the
number of his boys. never breathing
the fact that he has any girls. Hav-
ing only daughters Is spoken OF as
having no children The Bedouin.
having no respect for his wife. does
not hesitate to divorce her for any
caprice of his own.
II one approaches an encampment
In courteous way. speaking the Ian
guage and understanding every detail
of Bedouin etiquette. one receives a
cordial invitation to enter and rest In
the shade. and coffee is at once Of
fered one and a sumptuous meal is
prepared for the unknown visitor.
The needs OF horse or camel are also
attended TO carefully.
Outside the tent the men enjoy a
smoke and chat. and their inevitable
coffee. Squatting In a circle around
the camp fire. they fash their long
pipes and listen to the old-time STORY
teller" His lengthy stories OF adyen-
ture or fables OF weirdly imaginary
plots hold the company spellbound.
A sIeepIess Night.
At length when night is far spent
and the last fiickering ember among
the ashes has died out and stiffness
prevails throughout the camp, the
traveller also retires TO his tent. his
mind filled with a variety OF interest
ing pictures OF the strange life he has
entered upon. But alas! trivial ac-
compartments TO a night In a Bedouin
which do not In the least
disturb the native. to that life born.
are a cause OF great annoyance to the
visitor and give him a sleepless night
Near by his tent are the interesting
noises OF the continual movements OF
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
of which goes on all night long. Fur
ther of are the chirping OF crickets,
the croaking OF frogs and the uncom-
Portable sounds OF the shrieking OF
minor troubles to those within the
tent. Here flies. mosquitoes and sand
flies are his closest companions, ana
thickly inhabit his lodging. The heat,
which to the Bedouin is a source OF
comfort. grows insufferabie to the poor
stranger. These are the drawbacks
to an insight into Bedouin life.
Long ere daybreak he Is awakened
from a morning nap-at last attained
through sheer exhaustion-by the |
screams OF the children all around the
camp. Life Is astis. and the work OF
the women has begun And thus be- |
gins another day in the Bedouin camp
TO be spent exactly like yesterday ana
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 he
wish for any.
EvANGEliNE aEN.o, re,