Arizona republican., 1912-06-30

have many missionaries. MT Hvne however, had a different experience making the acquaintance in the city Of FeZ of the son of a Berber Sheik ThlS young man, whose ideas were more progressive than those of the ordinary Berber, took a great fancy to MT. Hyne, and being anxious to ac- quire knowledge of English Che al- ready knew French), invited Mir Hyne l to accompany him to his home on a desert oasis
 Realizing the novelty of the situa- tiOn, and knowing that such an honor was seldom conferred on d Christian MT. Hyne accepted the invitation, and, after travelling four days with a camel caravan, arrived at the fertile spot inhabited by the tribe with which
 he spent four wonderful months He was warmly received by the old Sheik, and consequently was well re- spected by the other members of tribe, for a sheik's word is absolute
 law, and violation of it means the bastinado, if not death In the time he was among these people he learned enough of their Arab dialect to make some progress in conversation and
 had the opportunity of studying at first hand their religion and customs The sheiks son." says MT. Hyne was well educated. having been sent
 to school in COnstantinOple The sheik himself could read and write Arabic
 as could one or two others of the tribe
 was told that his daughters could also
 read and write, but l never saw them
 except at a distance, as they were kept
 in seclusiOn, as are all upper class Mo- hammedan women.
 There was a mueZzin attached to the
 tribe, and he regularly called to prayers At the sound of his voice every mem Der wOui1 wash his hands, and, spread
 ing his prayer rug, recite the prayers of the Mchammedan liturgy with his
 face turned toward Mecca.
 The 3trangest thing to me was the food It required some time for my English stomach to grow accustomed to
 the abundance of sweets which the Berber takes with so much relish, and, although l am willing to admit that gum drops may be good sometimes, never came to believe that they should replace bacon and toast as breakfast dish. However, there was plenty of good mutton, which reminded me of home, although it was seasoned much higher than We ever think of seasoning meat in England.
 Every Berber is a natural athlete, and their principal sports are juggling, acrobatics. sword play and horseman- | ship x early all the so- called Arabian acrObatic troops seen in the circuses and music halls of England and Amer | ca are composed of Berbers. However, { 1t is seldom that these people are ever | found living other than in their own l country. Their sultan keeps a close 1 eye on them, and unless they manage | to get away by stealth, they can not l leave the country without a special permit from the Sultan. To secure such a permit they must apply for it | months n advance, and some one, us ually the sheik of their tribe, must give | a heavy bond for their return. They are given just so long to be away. and
 if they fail to return at the proper time
 the bond is forfeited and the bondsman | is liable tc lose his head. The women
 are never allowed to go.
 l In The Marriage of Captain Kettle
 I have laid large part of the action III 1 the Berber country because It offers such rich chances for adventure. A man 1 like Owen Kettle could find ali the eX- l citement he wanted if he happered to | find himself among the desert Berbers 1 without the proper credentials. With
 his nerve and his daring Captain Kettle
 would make most situations look tame.
 but when he lands among the Berbers l he has toemen worthy of his best ef- ] forts. The Bobbs- Merrill Company | June, 1912.