Charlevoix county herald., 1913-02-08
Il AGN12T a1ZLS

In the morning, with the rising sum- the Bedouin
arrive. Before Helouan is awake their white
head-dress was visible far down the sandy waste
that meets the fringe Of Delta towards Cairo.
But Helouan comes down to see. 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
buffao-hide and trot past almost fercely There
is scorn in their eyes, they circle about their
wives High on their splendid camels, they have
a regal air, making the great brutes turn and
double as easily as horses and shouting angrily
If anyone goes the water-sellers. This is
their last watering-pace before the tomb is
reached, and to triae with a Bedouin's water is
like trihing with his wives. And wonder they
wear this princely 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 hidden from sight in tent
like canvas, gorgeously striped and coored. 1t
sways to and fro with the enormous kneestroke
of the camels like boat at Solemny the
Mosem world files past across the sands And
we outsiders get nearer, ask, stare, and follow
we may. The gulf il not bridged that lies be-
tween minds and theirs. In vain try,
wondering what they think and feel, and whato
emotions hide behind those fine bronze faces
Their politeness wells 1t all, their deep world
their courtesy screens revelation They move,
like the cames. at the pace OF thousand years,
unchanging. We watch them barriers,
that is all. Note that old praying alone
there, behind the munching camel He has wash
ed his hands and feet; his carpet is spread on
the sand and his shoes off. Mind, heart and
soul are concentrated. He is oblivous to the
world about him as 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-Fantasia
they call It, borrowing a foreign word. couple
OF mounted police from Helouan down to
keep order and that the few inqulstive tour
lists from the hotels not molested. But their
services are not once 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 a word OF explanation
or inviting us to drink coffee with them when we
draw to their hrecircles. The Fantasia
grows fast and furious. while the crouching
els MUNICH and the cries OF goats and donkeys
mingle with the womens weird ululating. In one
corner a ring is formed and the band begins to
play-two pipes and tomtom. To the endless
repetition OF n single phrase. half melody, half
chant, enters Sheikh upon his Arab horse. The
gold and silver trapplngs 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 a gun