HOSPITALITY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 494, 24 August 1912, Page 7

HOSPITALITY.

HOW IT IS EXERCISED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF ARABIA. Captain Butler and Captain Aylmer tell of the curious ideas of hospitality held by some of the natives of that wild country lying between Bagdad and Damascus : —"We found Feysul Ibn Rashid (a minor ruler oi Arabia) sitting in a low room, the roof of which was supported by wooden pillars. All around the sides of the room were spread carpets, on which sat his viziers and members of his court. "He is a man of 33 years, with a dark, pointed beard, good, regular features, but eyes that are cold and cruel, and he has a nervous fidgety manner, and was all the time arranging his abba (cloak) and combing and curling his mostache and beard and admiring himself in a small, :heap looking-glass that hung just behind him. Above his head, on the wall, hung his silver-mounted walk-ing-stick and a sword, the sheath of which was also covered with silver. He was very richly dressed. "On l our arrival at the house placed at our disposal we congratulated ourselves on our good fortune in having such a cordial welcome, but we were speedily disillusioned. We had not been there more than five minutes when Feysul's head slave, a richly dressed personage called Dahm, came to tell us that the emir would not take our camels or our money, as he had plenty of both, but that le would like things of European make or of interest that we happened to have.

"This was only too true, and, during our five days stay there, there was a continual procession of slaves and hangers-on from the castle demanding things for the emir and his viziers and favourites, and demanding them in such a way that it was Impossible for us to refuse. At last we had practically nothing of any value left, having been fleeced of watches, revolver, compasses, various clothes and other articles of our kit. "Apart from this system of more or less polite robbery, we were well treated by the emir, and had our food sent us from the castle by him. About three or four times a day we had a Royal command from him, and used to go up. to the castle and drink many cups of coffee and excellent sweet tea with him, and talk about his country and Europe. He was always very genial on these occasions, and I honestly think he considered he was treating us very well in not taking all we had and turning us adrift to die in the desert." —"Geographical Magazine."