ARABIA, THE DESERT OF THE SEA 



1045 



Tfs^ily 



CAMEL AND YOUNG 



Thousands like these graze on the plains and deserts of Arabia. The female is rarely used 

 for riding, not being accustomed to the strain 



for himself and family. If he be an 

 unusually energetic or ambitious man 

 (which is unusual), he may cultivate 

 dates to sell, there always being a de- 

 mand by those who come with the cara- 

 vans. 



East of Kaf, about 25 or 30 miles, is 

 a smaller oasis named Ithera. The peo- 

 ple are less intelligent and most unkindly 

 disposed to all outsiders, as the writer 

 has good cause to remember, for it was 

 here he had his first real experience of 

 Arabian superstition and hatred of the 

 Christian. 



It came about thus : I had come un- 

 ceremoniously among the people of 

 Ithera without the necessary and all- 

 important introduction to the chief. 

 This for me was unfortunate, as it placed 

 me in the position of not being under 

 any one's protection, an important thing 

 in such an out-of-the-way part of the 

 world and among such an unfriendly 

 people. 



My sudden appearance in the guest- 

 room of Ithera, without any previous 

 idea of my being in the town, gave cause 



for speculation as to who and what I 

 was. One suggested a Jew, another a 

 Christian, another one of the heathen, 

 another an infidel, while the last, more 

 daring than all, informed the assembled 

 wonderers that I was neither of what 

 they had suggested, but a pig. I at 

 length put them right on the matter by 

 informing them that I was a Christian, 

 upon which I was ordered by the chief 

 to take my place with the cattle in the 

 stable part of the guest-room. 



This I did, but was not allowed long 

 thus to remain, for the suggestion was 

 volunteered that my near presence to 

 both camel and horse might result in the 

 speedy decease of both. So I was given 

 a place to myself under the shade of a 

 beautiful palm grove; but here my stay 

 was shortened by the remark that "prob- 

 ably my close contact with the palms 

 would hinder them from again bearing 

 fruit." So again I was requested to 

 move, this time being confined in a tent 

 to keep company with one afflicted with 

 a disease not unlike leprosy. 



Thus was my first contact with the 



