Page 23 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (3)_Neat

Waiting for the Bridge to Close
Mrs. W. J. Moerdyk
I WISH I could describe the picture before me as I look from the
Dykstras’ living-room windows upon the crowd of men, women
and children waiting for the bridge to close. It is noon and the
bridge has opened to let all steamers, sailboats and river traffic pass
through. The bridge is opened for this purpose three times a day, at
8:30 A. M., noon, 4:30 P. M. and then it is open all night from 8:00
P. M. until 6:00 A. M. The duration of its opening is from a half-hour
to an hour usually. In the meantime the crowds which gather settle
thenibelves in groups or otherwise, literally squatting along the sides of
the road against the line of houses and under the lone shade tree. They
have removed their burdens from their heads and placed them on the
ground beside them. They are shallow baskets containing bread, oniony
fish or dates, enough food for the day. Quite a contrast to the huge
loads of firewood these poor women carry on their heads to the bazaar
in the morning. Loads which are again as large as themselves making
them look like moving trees as they go trotting steadily along.
These Arabs as they are congregated here, some in groups and othcri
by themselves have a great fascination fur one, especially when otic it
new tu Ainarah and can watch all their proceedings without being ob.
served. It was much more interesting to watch them than to study the
language they were speaking. They were making themselves at home,
living their life on the street. Some were eating their noon-day meal
of bread or dates, mothers were nursing their babies, men were smoking,
or taking naps stretched out or leaning against the bricks of the houses';
others were talking loudly (Arabs only talk loudly) expostulating and
gesturing, so that the noise reminds one of the Chamber of Commerce
in Chicago. Yet those who are sleeping, sleep on as a child.
Along comes a barber with a folding chair under one arm, his kit
hanging at his side and a towel Hung over his shoulder, who gives a
hair-cut here—I should say a head-shave—and a beard-shave there.
He uses no soap only a little cold water and a dirty rag or towel.
The class of people sitting here are the poor country type, their
women go unveiled and do the work for the family. Their dress is
drab color, we would call it a faded black, here and there in the motley \
crowd one sees a splash of bright red. We wonder why they don't all
wear the bright red because it is so becoming to their dark skin and eyci,
but I’m told it is worn because of its cheap price and only the very poor
wear it. Their abbas are usually a dark brown, frayed and torn. The
men like to wear the light clothes which always look gray and dirty.
I heard a grunting and snorting and looked in the direction of the
sounds and saw a number of camels coming; they too will have to waii
for the bridge to close before continuing their journey on the other side
of the river. They snort their displeasure but hnally content themselves
to kneel or graze along the side of the stream. How fittingly the*
camels really go with these people.
Hut I must get back to my studying or how will 1 ever be able to
understand and talk to these women and children and bring them the
gospel message. Do they know Jesus? Do they know that He wami

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