Page 193 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (2)

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Arabian Parallels
Mk.v B. I). IIakkkn

W at the sights we see here daily as the sixth century meets the
K who have recently left home are more and mure interested
twentieth and turns to walk with it.
A common sight is the Arab riding the American made bicycle but
wearing his flowing garments. Often at -unset we walk nut into the
desert and as the loud call of the muezzin breaks out upon the evcning'i
stillness calling the faithful to prayer we see the Arab di-mount from
Ins bicycle, spread his abba in front of him and bow down to Allah.
Another familiar sight is the dignified old Arab with bis lung flowing
braid and cltillicn tiding a donkey and holding an ninlnella up over him
lor protection against the hoi Arabian sun. There was a time when
the first missionaries were told they were afraid of (lod or they wouldn't
carry umbrellas to hide themselves from (lod. A great many Arab men
whether riding or walking carry this very useful article..
There are many other such incidents but what is must interesting U
the way the Bible is illustrated continually before us. It has become
more real to us and so many things which are inconceivable to our
W estern minds have become clear.
As Abraham moved bis entire family, servants, cattle and homes from
Ur of the Chaldees to the Land of Canaan so do the Arab sheikhs move.
Just recently one moved from the Island to the mainland. He and hi«
people literally picked up their houses and all they owned and left, a
village of about two thousand people. It certainly is a deserted village
now.
W hen a man gets to be of marriageable age his father chooses a girt
from his own kindred. If he happens to live here and all his relation
live miles away they go there for a wife. One of our friends is leaving
soon to go to Baghdad to marry. He doesn’t know his bride-to-be a>
yet but his father will negotiate for her when they arrive.
Thus it was with Isaac. When he grew to manhood his father didn't
want him to marry a girl from the land in which he was sojourning but
sent a servant to his own kindred and he brought back Rebecca whom
Isaac had never seen. Among the other gifts with which Isaac pre­
sented her she received a beautiful ring for her nose. Lverv girl here
has her nose pierced when she is young so she’ll be ready in wear the
ring when she is presented with it.
There are many other incidents from the Old Testaments which are
seen here and also many from the New Testament. 11 we had the
power uf our Lord it would be very easy to tell a man to lake up hn
bed and walk tor the bed is nothing but a small mattress on a piece of
malting. It was not difficult for the shepherds and wise men to sec the
star fur the sky and the open spaces are wonderful. \\ e can easily dis­
tinguish the larger planets from among the multitude of stars because
they seem so much clearer.
The most striking incident of the Bible to me is one we see every
day. From our upper veranda we can see a large well, similar to the