THE BEDOUIN ARABS.
Fine stories are told of the Bedouin Arabs. We have heard a great deal about these wandering tribes of the desert; of their hospitality to strangers; of their generosity; of their gratitude; of their affection for their fleet and beautiful horses; of the wild free life they lead. They will not allow themselves to be cooped up in towns, they will not even live in houses, but spend their lives in breezy tents, out on the wilds.
When girls and boys read these accounts their hearts glow at the thought of the happy life of the Arab children. No lessons to learn, no school to attend, no work to do. They course around on splendid horses, and their whole life is one delightful “camping out.” When they get tired of living in one place, they go to another. They dress gorgeously too! A loose, and gracefully flowing costume, made of “rich stuffs,” and costly camel’s hair cloth.
And then besides the horse they have the docile and intelligent camel to bear their burdens, and to be their companions.
Such are the pictures often drawn of Bedouin life; and, no doubt you have thought when you read them, that if these ignorant, lazy, heathen Arabs were so good, and so happy, why should you be sent to school, and taught to be industrious, and trained to follow the precepts of the Bible? To be good, and to be happy are certainly the main things, and if these Arabs have learned the secret of commanding these we had better take lessons from them.
Let us look at the accounts of reliable travelers, and see how far the descriptions of the story-writers are true.
AN ARAB CHIEF.
AN ARAB CHIEF.
AN ARAB CHIEF.
On the next page we have an Arab chief. How do you like his looks? That long robe he has over his white cotton skirt, and thescarf on his head are of camel’s hair—there is no doubt about that—but, if you admire his bare legs and arms, and old slippers, it is more than I do. And I can tell you of something that you can’t see in the picture. The whole dress is shockingly dirty, and greasy.
Did you ever reflect how these “noble Arabs” get anything to eat? They must eat, you know, and they won’t work; so, how do they procure their food? Why, theystealit. They despise their brethren who dwell in houses, and plow and plant seed. They think work is degrading. But after the farmers have got their fields in good order, and the grain is ready to cut; down comes a tribe of Bedouins and carries off the harvest!
They entertain strangers, but only to beg from them, and what they fail to get by begging they will steal, if they have a chance.
Their generosity seems to be a reckless wasting and giving away of what they ought to save; and no people can drive so hard a bargain, or cheat more readily.
As for gratitude—well—if a man has done them a favor they perhaps tell him fewer lies, and cheat him less than they do others.
The camel is a very important animal in the deserts where the Bedouins live, for he can easily tread the sands, and can live a long time without water, and can bear heavy burdens. But he is very, very stupid, and ill-natured, and obstinate. Perhaps the poor beasts would do better if they had better masters, for the Bedouins half starve them, and constantly ill-treat them; and I don’t blame the camels for resenting such conduct.
It is not likely that such a race of people would treat horses any better than they do their camels. Horses could not bear such treatment long, however. It would kill them. And in fact, the Bedouins have very few horses. The fleet and beautiful Arab steeds are owned by the Arabs who dwell in the villages and try to live somewhat as we do.
AN ARAB ENCAMPMENT.
AN ARAB ENCAMPMENT.
AN ARAB ENCAMPMENT.
Tent life is very pleasant, for a few days, when you go out into the green woods with a party of friends. But it would be a very different thing, you would find, if you were compelled to spend your life that way; sometimes under the shade of palms, but, more frequently on the hot desert sands. Dirt and discomfort belong to an Arab tent; and legions of fleas take up their abode there.
If you were to stay with these Bedouins for awhile I think you would gladly go back to civilization and work; and you would come to the conclusion that schools and wash-tubs were good institutions.