New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11

the cities, but the true ornaments of a
barbarc people. Hoops of gold were in the
ears-one hanging from the top Of the ear,
another from the lobe. The neck, even to
the waist line, was covered with chains
formed of balls of gold or of coins, and on
the arms were many bracelets. In writing
coldly Of the Bedouin woman. her tattooing,
her henna -colored hair. her koh-blackened
eyes and her massive chains Of gold and
anklets of silver-it seems as if she were
still in an age of barbarism, yet ornaments
arc becoming to her rich coloring and she
is not overdressed. Ornaments belong 20
the time and the place, and are made for
these women, who need strong settings for
their savage beauty.
There will be no race extinction for the
Bedouins long as they remain in the
Desert. The babies, with their little brown
desert. The babies, with their little brown
eyes twinkled saucily as they shyly held
out their hands for the gifts brought by
Ulccma. There were presents for all.
which seemed mainly to take the form or
jewelry for the women and amulet boxes
for the children. which they hang around
their necks by colored cord, that being
their only article of clothing.
"These Bedouin women are followers
of Mahomet, but they put their faith in
holy tombs and charms and sacred groves.
They are not so strict in regard to prayers
az are the people who live within call of
the muezzin and their religion seems to
be more Of superstition than the worship
Of God. In the desert whirlwinds which
@lo,, H.
glnns and evil monsters and at night when
a star shoots across the dark blue sky, they
believe it is dart thrown by God at an
evil genie, and they whisper, May God
transfix the enemy of the Faith Around
every child's neck is hung small box
containing some quotation from the Koran
that will guard him from the evil eye, that
curse most dreaded by all mothers of an
Eastern land For every evil to which man
may fall heir the Koran is the cure. A
few words from its precious pages are
bound around the arm of the camel driver
who feels that with this as guardian he
will not be lost upon the trackless sands.
When a child is i'll the mother summons
the astrooger, who writes few words
upon a piece Of paper, soaks it in water
mother rests assured that all is we'll Has
the child not drunk from the very fount
of wisdom, the words of God?
"Uleema sat upon her rug and told these
listening women Of city houses, rich and
beautiful, with great courtyards where
fountains sent UP pcrfumed water; where
women lounged on wondrous rugs beneath
the dim, cool archways; where white clad
slaves were passing to and fro with sweet
ened drinks for the many soft, silken clad
beauties of the harem. But she. stretched
out her arms to the desert outside, 4 feel
there like a bird imprisoned, as if l were
sWathed in bands of silk from which | can
not free myself. Bring me the henna pot,
| will be of the Bedawi again. With
laughter, her hands were tinted, the kohl
was placed upon her eyes, the golden hoops
were placed in her ears, the arms were COW
cred with bangles, the slippers were cast
off and heavy anklets placed above her
feet, and soon the Uleema Of the city
was the Woman of the Desert and I
hardly knew my friend"