The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1917-01-11
w YHAT manner Of people con-
M stitute the ''body polite"
" " of the worlds newest king

dom--that of Arabia
forms the subject Of bulletin issued
by the National Geographic society.
The bulletin is based upon the obser-
vations and experiences Of one OF the
society's correspondents, who has
spent many years in the near East.
Concerning the Bedouins, the nomadic
class in Arabia whose extensive
camps are scattered over the interior
of the great southwestern peninsula OF
Asia, the bulletin says:
Of the Bedouins and the Fellahs
(the settled agricultural CLASSY, the
former are the more numerous people
and by far the more interesting. The
.Bedouin pities the city dweller because
fate has decreed that he must pass his
DAYS in the confinement of house or
Enclosed city, while the city man con-
graduates himself on his good fortune
in being spared the dangers, inconvenl-
ences and exposures that are the lot
of the tent-dweller.
The life of the latter is an uncer-
tain one. His tent is homemade, spun
and woven by the women OF his harem
from goats hair, the accumulation OF
many years. This tent cloth is water
proof and good protection against
the fierce sun Of the desert. 1t is very
portable and serves for many genera
lions. Each camp has it's chief, part
of whose tent is set apart as 4 guest
room, in which visitors are entitled to
three davs' hospitality.
Settles Local Disputes.
The chief gives the order to move
camp and decides on the new pitch.
Local disputes are referred to him for
settlement and in the event of his
being unable to adjust the matter the
disputants must go to the capital and
present their case to the emir. This
they are slow to do, for it means
long Journey and absence from home
for an uncertain time, as well as some
amount o. expense The chief, too, is
responsible for the good behavior OF
the people in his district and for the
return Of the tax due from the tribe.
The desert which the Bedouin calls
nome has to be lived in, crossed, slept
it can be thoroughly appreciated and
;enioyed. The boasting of the Bedouins
about the free life they enjoy, ana
their pity for their city neighbors, con-
fined in their close and dark dwellings,
can be excused after sojourn In their
tents. But the desert life is not all
honey by any means, for is there not
1f Of from
nothing-to-lose and all-to-gain men,
hers of society, or the risk Of perishing
for want of water, or the giving out OF
ones food without the possibility of
being able to replenish the supply?
When travelling through inland Ara
bia the routine of travel is somewhat
arduous. Up with the daybreak and
rs soon as possible load the camels =;
ride for some four or five hours; then
put down for the first morning meal,
which usually consists Of dates ana
water; then off again until late in the
afternoon, when halt Is made for the
night. Supper usually consists OF
warm bread, with !; onion or dates as
a relish. Bread is pared in as sim
pie manner as possible. While the
coarse -four and water are being
kneaded into dough, a large fire is
made which provides q good heap of
hot ashes. On T of these the fiat
tened dough is Ia then covered with
the remainder of the ashes. In about
fifteen minutes the dough is sufficient.
NV baked. It is then well beaten to
hrOI TO MI
and divided among those who from
their bags have contributed to the
meal
Etiquette Strictly Regarded.
After the evening feast coffee II