Page 175 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (3)_Neat

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7 NEGLECTED ARABIA 9
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look upon an unbeliever. The people are all staunchly Moham- * • li
medan, but many have lost the accompanying fanaticism, The
friendship of many of them towards the missionaries is warm and i
they all hold the mission in high esteem, but our religion from !i
which come those qualities which they admire-and respect, they
aYoid and oppose. -/ • I I
The sense of . humor of the Arab is enjoyable^ One1 day.* Dr. i
'CalveVley. and. I were walking through the bazaars. Along .came
ig broker, carrying an old broken wall clock. I doubt if even a Jew
' would have looked at it in America. This broker had an offer !!
^ equivalent to $1.05 for it. An Arab ahead of us stopped the ardent
- salesman,; examined the clock, asked the price and looked’wise
U if he were cornPetent of judging a clock. The broker began . - 1 1
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explaining its merits and as we passed he shouted out its guarantee. . .
j -Guaranteed to be broken; guaranteed #to be absolutely broken.” . !l
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A\Ve laughed, and both broker and buyer immediately joined in. our
Uugh* At least one man made, no higher bid. • . ; • i
% It is interesting to note the readiness with which these people
^ adopt western goods. New Fords are appearing regularly, Singer
"i Sewing Machines and-Chiclets are sold. Cast-off American clothes ; 11\
■'“Tare sold in large numbers, to the poor. The Sheikh has a Kohler
^electric Jight plant and a cinema..;'These things are-quite indicative • !}■
jjz'that the .old fanaticism is on the .wane. • ' .v' : j-.
We have been most sadly/impressed with the position of woman- • .? |;
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ShooJ in Arabia./; Only when veiled and completely covered in u
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.fjong black ubba^dare she enter the street. High class women live ■
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'.ilhJt^entire lives inside their masters* doors, with no chance of going : -■ 1
out except at early dawn.. A usual picture among the Bedouin is r *
f?of V man erectly strutting, on ahead carrying only himself and .his
iJ-rifle. Behind is his wife, driving the donkeys or gpats, carrying the i
burdens and generally directing affairs. When in the city she does ■
'ill the buying, bargaining and selling. Whether city or Bedou • i
• woman she is virtually enslaved. However, they tell us that many .»
of the women are most charming and lovable in spite of it. ■ 5
Whereas a knowledge of woman's position here makes one sick 1 '
It heart, there is a partial recompense in an acquaintance with some •
of the young men. Their alertness and keenness are* refreshing. i ' ••
i -I have met them in the bazaar and in our homes. Oh, if they had ; l
• ihc opportunity that America offers. As it is, they sit in a small I*
{our by six feet shop and sell grains or cloth or dates or sugar and
■ icy will remain there. But they seein to be happy in it, although V-
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• there are restless: souls among them, who crave higher and better
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'things. \
It is interesting to notice the strong nationalism of the young *
-liggo,! They are stirring with the hope of an Arab Empire, perhaps. : A :
•'And inseparably • liuked with’ that nationalism is their religion. i > ’ * •
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' ^Arabia is the cradle of Islam. Islam, is the national religion, there- i
they are Mohammedans. The two are -wedded. It is the
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'.national and therefore . the natural thing to be a Mohammedan,
•jpjiy that these eager, discerning young Arab nationalists, may •; \ *
-fed their King in Jesus the Son of God. i .*
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