Page 61 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

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NEGLECTED ARABIA 15
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| Persia., These people do not come to Muscat for they are hostile to the
I Sultan's government, but our doctors are welcome among them all, no
I matter how wild they may be.
I Before the morning's clinic was opened, out patients were visited by
I the doctor. .During that time I made it my business tp occupy the crowd
1 anxiously waiting at the entrance of the dispensary. It was found best
1 to preach in a variety of ways. Because the Arabs love poetry, we sang
1 hymns; because they respect wisdom we gave them proverbs. Story-
1 telling is highly acceptable to them, and so the story of Christ's birth was
1 given with its inherent meaning. This system was followed more or less
1 every day so that we could give it from memory and the people could re-
9 member it a little. I am sure that no one thought of renouncing^his
1 religion, however much we longed that Christ might possess their hearts.
J But we are sure that many came to the conclusion that our religion was
1 not half so bad as they had been led to believe. We are no longer idolators
9 in their sight. We pray and give alms. The Christian is better than a
■ dog after all. Such thoughts are the beginnings of a transition that will
9 come in Arabia, sooner or later.
1 Our return journey was made by camel. It was planned to make a
S worthwhile stop in the six largest towns along the way, Wc nuult a town
9 i day for six cluyi, a (lUtmiCQ of about one hundred and forty miles In all.
■ Mr o'clock A. M, found us In the saddle and u jog trot wus kept up for
1 iwcnty-rtye miles between th? .stages. This usually brought us to our des-
M lination in the next town at nine or ten in the morning. I shall never «
1 forget the beautiful starry heavens of those mornings, and the ex­
quisite sunrises over the sea. The Walis or representatives of the
Muscat government, were on the lookout for us in each place and
showed us no little hospitality. After coffee, dates and watermelon, we
idvertised ourselves by walking through the bazaar. After the mid-day
(tst the people came to see the doctor. Upon a long mat on the shady side 1
of the house the medicines were arranged. None left empty-handed. It- i •
was a free distribution, no argument, no fees. While the doctor treated i
tie sick at his end of the mat, boys at the other end were watching me set \ .
ap the magic lantern for an evening’s entertainment. And truly magic
jt was, for did not our water burn as we poured it on the carbide ? Most ;
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J them will never know the reason and this will be added to their hundred
ad one reasons why the Americans are wonderful. However it produced I
ie crowd at night. We always had more than a hundred to see the pic-
sres. Following methods begun in Sohar, we first showed travel pictures
ad ended up with Bible pictures. We treated the picture of Christ as a
bet. No apologies were made for it, although the Koran denies the cruci-
fadon. To our joy this aroused no controversy, nor even any objection,
• ad all seemed highly pleased with this sort of entertainment.
Our visit along this coast revealed deplorable conditions. These con-
i ibona offer untold opportunities. It leaves us with a deeper feeling of
'1 rtponsibility to go out "into the highways and hedges and compel them
rJ»come in.” This is still “Neglected Arabia" and we are debtors to these
1 aople also. "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, tluit He will send \
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"J trth laborer* into His harvest.”

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