The Fejîr Beduins
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 December 2010
We journeyed taking turns to walk and ride, and as Zeyd would changing our mantles, till the late afternoon; he doubted then if we might come to the Aarab in this daylight. They often removing, Zeyd could not tell their camping-ground within a dozen or score miles. One of the last night's Ageylies went along with us; armed with a hammer, he drove my sick camel forward. As we looked for our Aarab we were suddenly in sight of the slow wavering bulks of camels feeding dispersedly under the horizon; the sun nigh setting, they were driven in towards the Beduin camp, menzil, another hour distant. Come to the herdsmen, we alighted and sat down, and one of the lads receiving our bowl, ran under his nagas to milk for us. This is kheyr Ullah (“the Lord's bounty”), not to be withheld from any wayfaring man, even though the poor owners should go supperless themselves. A little after, my companions enquired, if I felt the worse; “because, said they, strangers commonly feel a pain after their first drinking camel-milk.” This somewhat harsh thin milk runs presently to hard curds in the stomach.
In approaching the Beduin tents I held back, with the Ageyly, observing the desert courtesy, whilst our host Zeyd preceded us. We found his to be a small summer or “flitting-tent” which they call héjra, “built” (thus they speak) upon the desert sand.
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