Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-10
BY ANTON HUFFMAN,
As Told to Elliot Bailey

N September 81, 1921, 1 started out
4 from San Francisco on tour around
the world in quest Of great mems ,eIns
autographs. Less than two years later
in July, 1921 arrived in Tun1s,
North Africa, having been successful IN OBTAIN
ing the signatures of many hundreds OF noCapieS
in the countries already visited.
In Tunis decided to buy donkey 10 TAKE
me through the desert sought out Jewish
dealer named Abraham, and because I hap
uened to be the first customer on the hrst DAY
after the Sabbath, received a pleasant sur
urise Abraham supplied the donkey but ne
fatty declined to accept payment for herl
.No." he said, 'here is little Fatima, the
most intelligent Of all my donkeys. She knows
the road well between here and Tripoh. She
isn't fast but she's very sure, and give her
to you"
thanking the good Jew for his generosity, /
loaded Fatima with my luggage, to say nothing
of water and provisions for the pair of us. and
we marched out through the city of Tunis TO
the dusty caravan road which runs southwark
through olive groves and fields of barley to-
ward Sousa
Travelling had mostly to be done in the early
morning and evening hours, for the days were
terribly hot and it was not long before Fatima
presented me with specimen of that intelli-
gence which Abraham had claimed for her.
FER camping one night in the desert,
"A about 60 miles south of the oasis Of Gabes,
we started on our way toward Tr1pon again
about o'clock in the morning, before it was
really light. All at once Fatima stopped dead
and began to act in a very peculiar manner,
trying to go east instead of south. Finally she
declined to move at ALL although pulled her
ears, showed her from behind and even beat her.
Argument and castigation having no effect,
was compelled to sit down and wait Tor dawn,
which solved the riddle. Ahead of us stretched
a vast dried-up salt lake. Walking into this
for a few feet, promptly sank knee-deep into
quicksand, from which I had much difficulty
in extricating myself Fatima was delighted at
my plight, showing her teeth and laughing me
to scorn in donkey fashion for laundering into
the trap She now made difficulty about
taking the course she had originally suggested,
which involved detour of about 20 kilometerS,
but safe.
We reached the city of Tripoli after six
weeks uneventful journeying. The Bedouin
tribesmen in the interior, I was told, were in
revolt; but there was not likely to be any danger
from them between Tripoli and Missuratta.
On August "a Fatima and reached the Casa
Carabulli military fort where we were hoSpit-
ably received by the major in command. Next
morning we set out again. My next destination
was Cefara Fort, some 20 kilometers away.
Fatima was not in the best of moods and
again it seemed as if she had a premonition of
some kind, for she went along very reluctantly
BY midday, however, we were abreast OF the
fort but some kilometers distant from it.
Opposite ahe fort was a well, around which a
few Arabs had established themselves in mud
hutS. One of them called to me to come and
have a glass of shei (tea) with other travellers
ia his shack, and accepted the invitation, sit
ting down in Arab fashion cross-legged on the
floor.
1 had not been there long when an excited
boy rushed into the hut shouting, "Rebels
Rebels!' Immediately there was the utmost
confusion, all the travellers rushing out and
loading up their camels and donkeys in order
to get away while they could. for they knew
that the marauding Bedouins would spare
nothing that looked worth taking.
I hustled like the others, and we all set of