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, they steal it. 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.
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.