“With the exception of my sad adventure during the tempest, I enjoyed the ten days’ trip on the Bella Donna very much. But ten days is enough for such a journey, and I was not sorry when I reached Para, and the sea coast.”
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.
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 the scarf 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.