Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1913-01-24
= Z2aM12T oCz1o

In the morning, with the rising sun, the Bedouin
arrive. Before Helouan is awake their white
head-dress visible far down the sandy waste
that meets the fringe OF Delta towards Cairo.
But Helouan comes down to Few OF
them tarry here; they go straight through; the
Bedouin do not like the people, houses, tourists.
They resent the cameras flourish their whips of
buffalo-hide and trot past almost flercely. There
is scorn In their eyes, as they circle about their
wives High their splendid camels, they have
q regal air, making the great brutes turn and
double as easily as horses, and shouting angrily
X anyone goes near the water-sellers This Is
their last watering-pIace before the tomb is
reached. and to trife with q Bedouins water is
like trihing with his wives And wonder they
wear this princey MEN, for the whole Imperial
desert Is their home. Upon the slower camels In
their lordly train sometimes four abreast their
women, all carefully yelled, sit with the little
children. Some are hidden from sight In tent
like canvas, gorgeously striped and colored. It
sways to and fro with the enormous knee-stroke
of the camels like boat at sea- Solemnly the
MosleIn world files past across the sands. And
we outsiders get no nearer, ask stare. and follow
we may. The gulf 1t not bridged that lies be-
tween our minds and theirs. In vain we try,
wondering what they think and feel and whato
emotions hide behind those fine bronze faces.
Their polteness wells 1t ALL their own deep world;
their courtesy screens revelation. They move.
like the camels, at the pace of thousand years,
that is all. Note that old man praying alone
there, behind the munching camel He has wash
ed his hands Cnd feet; his carpet is spread on
tho sand and his shoes are of. Mind, heart and
soul are concentrated He is oblivtous to the
world about him he bows towards the east
and his forehead taps the ground.
AS the moon rises higher and night becomes
all white, the fun begins in earnest-F Fantasia,
they call 1t, borrowing foreign word. A couple
of mounted police from Helouan come down to
keep order and see that the few inquisitive tour
lists from the hotels are not molested. But their
services are not required. Only the little
children trot around with their incesatn demand
for baksheesh The Arabs take notice of US
outsiders, beyond making way when we approach.
offering here and there word of explanation
or inviting US to drink coffee with them when we
draw near TO their fre-circles. The Fantasia
grows fast ANA furious. while the crouching cam
els MUNICH and the cries Of goats and donkeys
mingle with the women's weird Llulating. In
corner ring is formed and the band begins to
play--two pipes and tomtom To the endless
repetition of single phrase, half melody, half
chant, enters a Sheikh upon his Arab horse The
gold and silver trappings CLEAN IN the moonlight
His head-dress shines; the horses metal neck
lace chinks and rattles. Holding the reins in one
hand, the other grips staff with its point in the
sand; round this he circles In and out, making
a figure Of eight the animal taking It's small steps
proudly, neck arched tail flying. head held grace
fully erect Suddenly the rider swings gun