THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1916, Page 10

THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

LETTER PROM MR. J. w. IT. SCOTLAND. THE DIRTY, DISHONEST ARAB. Mr. Victor Beck lias just received a private letter from Mr. j. W. H. Scotland, the .New Zealand aviator, who was with the fighting forces on the Persian frontier. Mr. Scotland says: "You will local! that I mentioned some particulars of this very trying Persian climate. I lave since experienced more of it ; with the heat ranging from 120 degrees to 130 degrees in the shade, as the result , wlwli I got a severe lieat stroke which placed me hors de combat with the aviation business for a time. I am now at Poona (in the Punjab district) where tho climate is more acceptable! The district where we were located, in addition to the great heat, is awfully damp, which gives one the feelin» of being in a, vapour bath all the time. However, as scou as I recover suflleienti re.tum to Mesopotamia, where tjiere is ample work to do. '"Thero was a big battle at Ctesiphon the end of last month, which lasted three days. We were successful in taking 1300 Turks and Arabs prisoners. Our casualties were estimated at 2500, and although this .was rather severe for us, it was extremely satisfactory to know that the enemy lost considerably more than double that number.

"Generally speaking, the Arabs are most treacherous, and whilst fighting with our enemy tlic Turks will turn round on them in the event of the Turks getting the worst of the engagement, and will loot them of every thing they can lay hands on. In fact, the Arabs will loot their own people. They are absolutely devoid of nil sense of honor. Immediately the Turka retire from a city, the Arabs get in quick and lively, looting Ihe bazaars and taking everything before them, and woe betide any person attempting to interfere with them. Before the looters get very far with '(heir spoils, they are frequently looted themselves - by wandering bands of their own countrymen. "The country abounds with these wandering tribes, and for absolute filth and dirt they are the limit. I have been through their reed huts, and seen with my own eyes that which I certainly co.uld not have credited otherwise. A public health department in this land would have a most busy time in even making an attempt at any sanitary organisation. Water buffaloes, which lie in the rivers all day to keep cool, and incidentally get covered ill mud, take notions to make for the reed huts before mentioned, ami share these hovels with the men, women and children. In addition to these, the hut is also shared with '[lire' dogs (a cross between a jackal and a dog), hens, goats, and the ever evident eat, so the perfume of these Oriental dwellings can be far better imagined than described. I have often heard of dirty people, but if there is any otl.t'f ser. of natives dirtier 'than these, then 1 don't want to be as near them. Of course, those, people, have never known any other life, and to n certain extent may bo excused. The most mysterious part of the nd'air is their freedom from epidemics and disease. However, I haw a great preference for our Australian methods, and shall not remain in the precincts of the world-famed Garden of Eden any longer than necessary to settle accounts with the Turks and their allies.

"The wandering desert tribes look forward wiiii great delight for a chance ui a 'scrap' with their follow tribes, and the winners always carry off the women folk as prizes. ''Outside tho villages and towns everything looks like a desert, with exceptions of a few small patches here and I hern on each side of the rivers, but these patches produce in n most marvellous manner the most beautiful grapos, melons), dates, and u multitude of other luxurious tropical fruits. It appears to me that this country has a "Teat future before it when it is properly drained, which will be a job of great magnitude, but is within the (hounds of possibilities. The large pools of stagnant water which are :to be seen in every direction are the breeding'places of mo.-quitos. and mosquitos to the white man means malaria, but the Panama Canal building has taught us thai, this trouble may he overcome by drainage and sanitation. The flies in the day time and mosquitos at night make life almost unbearable, and it becomes n treat tu get up in the clouds in the 'bus' to get away from the viie smellj of the villages and the pest of insects. | "Notwithstanding all that may be said against tho Arab as regards his honor and integrity, or.e cannot but admire his physique", which is marvellous considering the facts here mentioned of the manner in which they live. There arc a large number of (Germans in this district. although their numbers are grr.due.liy decreasing, and they have been responsible for considerable plotting."