Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-10

facing our two "caief hosts" and as we
were seated the other five men auto
| m~atically folded themselves up on near
| by cushions. As soon as we were seated
the two eldest sons Of the house ap-
peared to serve their guests, placing be-
fore us tall glasses of grenadtne fol-
lowed by equally tall glasses OF coco
to load the table with six plates Of as
many varieties OF dates, two Of figs,
eight kinds of cakes and 10 varieties
of native candies-their appetizing ap-
pearance enhanced by the instant ar
rival of at least 100000 flies! The
two fluids and the dates, cakes and
candies sampled and enthuSed over, u
rebellious interiors welcomed with Joy
the advent Of the eldest son bearing
the steaming cafe Mature which con-
cludes every Arab repast. That dis
posed of, we rose t o leave, when our
host interposed to say the ladies of the
household were waiting to receive US
upstairs.
So upstairs we went to find ourselves
In q world of women on the sunny
crenellated roofs of the city above the
palms. Here the four ladies of the
household received us as graciously as
We might have been received in any
European drawing room. The first wife
escorted us to two chairs under a cano-
py on a platform at the farther end Of
"our" roof. Thus enthroned, our
hosteSses gathered about us to touch
our shoes, chiffon dresses and straw
hats and go into ecstasy over Helen'S
wavy golden hair. But a community Of
interest was established when it was
discovered that out of compliment to
our hostesses We were both wearing
Arab necklaces and bracelets. At once
half a dozen pairs of arms were thrust
forward to display their owners wealth
of gold and silver.
But, while we were being thus enter
tanned, the news had spread that the
two young "Roumia" were ION the
roof" and over the roofs in all direc-
tions we heard the soft tread of bare
feet as the blue-robed ONE clustered
about on the adjoining houses 70 syntse
and kiss their hands to US and can
down musical greetings in response to
our timidly spoken Arab salutations.
THE next morning. u last, we were
surprised and pleased to receive an
ing afternoon to midmorntng tea at his
country house" in the oasis. When he
brought us the invitation, u invalu-
able interpreter delivered 1t with almost
paternal pride over our social success,
adding, "You know, the only other Eu-
ropean lady ever received by the Cadi
and his wives Is H. r. H. the Duchess
d'Aosta, and she didn't see the garden
we're going to now" Which settled the
we just had to go 3 kilometers
and back in the broiling sun. But once
arrived. we didn't regret 1t. The house,
native style through a dirt
occupied by goats, dogs. chickens
and donkeys. faces on a Garden of
Sitting on the cool arcaded
terrasse, we looked into a world of palms,
their waving fronds sending the sun
beams dancing a hundred ways into
lower trees Of oranges, lemons, pome-
granates, peaches, apples. pears; O care
fully tended garden Of roses, yellow
and a dozen local flowers un.
known to us. Presently we deserted the
lower terrasse for the roof and the
finest view we ever had Of the oasis of
Gadames and its protecting circles of
soft sand dunes or hills of 800 or 400
feet in height. Halfway downstairs one
OF the sons we had met yesterday
like n Of Aladdin's genii. out
OF an invisible doorway to usher us into
huge room-wallS and floors covered
with rare old tiles and a beamed CELL
Ing OF huge carved palm trunks. At
one end of the room was the inevitable
table at which we seated
ENHsxl Couti1nItad on Seventh Pa1e -