When  the  Bedouins  decide  to  indulye  in  the  recreation  of  chasmg
the  ostrich,  they  put  their  horses,  for  a  week  or  more,  upon  a  slender
diet  of  barley  and  water,  and  exercise  and  wash  them  well.  Then  lightly
dressed,  and  armed  onh'  with  a  stick,  they  assemble  at  the  resort  of  the
birds  and  simply  run  them  down  with  their  fleet  horses,  knock  the  game
on  the  head  and  cut  their  throats.
The  wandering  habits  of  the  Bedouins  makes  it  impossible  for  them

.  to  seclude  their  wives,  as  do  the   more  settled   nationalities  of  the  East.
They  often  appear  before  strangers,  and  even  in  the  villages,  with  little  or

no  covering  to  their  faces.    Like  the  Persians  the  women  have  great  power


A  BEDOUIN


5o6  PANORAMA    OK    NATIONS.
in  their  families,  and  if  ill-used  they  have  a  right  to  demand  a  divorce.
As  a  rule  the  Bedouins  do  not  practice  polygamy,  although  it  is  said
they  have  established  in  its  place  the  custom  of  a  constant  interchange
of  wives.  .   ,.
.    -     -       IN  THE  TENT.
The  spirit  of  hospitality  is  as  much  a  part  of  the  Bedouin's
relieion,  as  his  horse  and  his  love  of  war.  Outside  of  his  tent  he  will
rob  a  stranger  whom,  within,  he  can  not  serve  too  much.  As  long  as
you  are  the  Arab's  guest  )Ou  are  safe.  When  the  shadow  of  his  dark
cloth  tent,  woven  of  goat's  or  camel's  hair,  falls  upon  you,  you  should
call  with  a  loud  voice,  "  tarike  "  (retire),  as  a  signal  that  the  women  may
withdraw  behind  the  carpet  which  tllvides  the  house  into  two  apart-
ments.
