Page 352 - Neglected Arabia 1906-1910 (Vol-1)

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The discussion elicited the fact that he had drifted far from the old i
Islamic moorings, and, what was stranger still, his friends seemed to
share all or some of his radical opinions. It is significant that men in
tlieir positions should openly avow such principles.
2. During the same tour my route lay near the camp of Sa’doun，
a notorious brigand chief, who had a short time previously been par­
doned by the Sultan and induced to come and collect the taxes from
was enter-
rebellious Arabs. After a short audience with Sa’doun I
tained in the tent of his scribe. The latter was sitting at a table with

a bottle of “arak” before him. To the accompaniment of numerous
potations he began to air his views. He flatly denied the existence
of a Deity, of judgment or of prophecy, while the other Arabs sat an
smiled at his coarse jests.
3. While camping at Mu*ainar with Mr. Dykstra last >car a mullah
frequently came to visit us. He had evidently been brought to ^
by a Babi friend, but when I saw him he had already outba ，
even him, for he freely admitted that Mohammed was only a s
of the Bedouin. The fast came on, but the mullah secretly yet eagerly
came to our hut for dates and water.
Turkish official frankly admitted
4. At Amara, in August, a young
that the Koran is antiquated.
Turkish civil engineer, often face-
5. A friend of the latter, a
tiously pities my simple faith.
6. A commander of troops publicly asked “Why are the English
“Then,”
so powerful ?'* ^Because they are so just/1 came the answer. .
said he, ,(l will be just, and will not trouble myself with ablutions,
fasting and prayers.

In the Ashar mosque last June a Turkish official asked permission
to address the worshippers at the Friday prayers. His subject was
St. Paul. After sketching the course of the vengeful Saul, his perora-
follows: “Oh, true, believers! if a glimpse of the living
lion was ns
Isa could transform so fanatical a Jew as Saul, it behooves you and
me to get a glimpse of Him too. ” Wc were gratified to learn that
lie had drawn liis knowledge of Paul’s life from a Turkish New Tcsta-
nient purchased at our shop.

A TRIP UP THE EUPHRATES.
REV. II. R. L. WORRALL, M. D.
the Euphrates river with
How many would like to take a trip up t
us» or, rather, know ho'v've take such a trip?

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