Page 355 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (2)

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u NliUUiCIHL) A KAMA

We received a hearty invitation from the sheikh to come and r»ec him at
that time, or let him know and he would come to Amara to see us.
When the holiday season arrived and brought my brother to visit ui
at Amara, we decided that a trip by launch to the district ui Sheikh M.
would be a nice diversion and an excellent opportunity, so on the last
day of the old year we boarded the launch and set oil.
After about four hours of travelling we arrived at the Arab encamp,
incut and were admitted into the large mid beautiful home o| the sheikh,
being greeted with a very warm welcome by the sheikh himself. 1 |u
hospitality was very cordial and elaborate, and we spent a very pleasant
afternoon and evening with him. His sons, one about eight years of

A YOtINt; SIIKIKII AND IMS III.ACK I'l.AYMATKS
age. and the other about fourteen, had a very enjoyable time rompii*
with my three-year-old son, and the oldest one even enjoyed some <4
the simple games we played with him for his amusement, and loci
dentally we discovered through them how bright and how quick to lean
the lad was. . , Q . .. ...
However, the object of our visit proved a Hat failure. . nice seeing oi
four weeks before, the sheikh had been talked to by his Moslem MulUv,
as his religious advisor is called, and was told by him and by ulho,
that it would not do to send his hoys to Bnsiah because lie
subject them to the influence of Christians, and he would he k<4
jntr them to the school of infidels. The sheikh hearkened iu the
of his friends, feared to go contrary to their advice, and, althuuKh * |
could tell that he was personally convinced that he ought to send ^ 1
bovs to Basrah, he was afraid to go contrary to his Mullah s advice. 1

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