The Monte Vista journal., 1912-02-10
a REDOlIZW KWIANzR7AEUT

still more 30. AS they are continu-
ally on the move. and their journeys
do not extend very far, when prepar-
ing to start afresh. they simply gather
their belongings together, carelessly
tying them with strings or ropes into
bundles, and flinging them across the
backs OF horses. mules or camels
Cooking utensils are strung together
even when containing food, filled
baskets hang on each side OF these
beasts OF burden, and on top OF them
are rolls of mattings and cradles or
rags bundled together hanging from
the launches OF the animals. while on
their backs is spread the bedding. On
this soft seat are safely deposited the
women and children, as many as each
beast can carry. A 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 musical dis
cordance as accompaniment to the
low humming of lullabies by the
mother to little brown babies in their
arms.
A lustier chorus is heard in the
distance. the monotonous, plaintive
wall or love song" of the men ahead
on camels or horses. To prevent
sleep children falling off their beasts
by the roadside, they are securely tied
to their donkeys. Both the sights and
sounds are grotesque enough for a
searcher after the extraordinary. Per-
haps the most amusing sight OF the
whole procession is when the bundles
begin to fall off and the women, OF
course. have to dismount, pick them
up and rearrange them more securely
During the daytime the children are
made good use Of acting as shepherds
or herdsmen, driving the sheep or
goats, while the men gently bear on
their shoulders the young lambs.
Could any scene be more patriarchal
or recall to ones mind more vividly
the sojournings Of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob?
Careless In Dress.
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 1t 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 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
hnonb tHeHi, as III iuct, among All
the natives of the land. the birth OF a
girl is no event OF Importance or re-
Joicing, and rather one OF dire disap-
pointment and often the cause OF cruel
treatment to the poor mother; where
as that OF n son is the means OF rails
ing her in the esteem OF her husband
and OF all the tribe.
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 II spoken OF AZ
having no children" The Bedouiu,
having NO respect for his wife. does
not hesitate to divorce her for any
caprice Of bis own.
II one approaches an encampmsut