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National Geographic : 1919 Nov
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THE' NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE BEDOUINS TRAINING FOR WAR AGAINST THE TURKS The English and French succeeded in making good infantrymen of Bedouins, but the major part of their fighting was by cavalry or camel corps. One requirement for an applicant wishing to join the "crack" camel corps is to be able to vault into the saddle with the aid of one hand while the other holds a rifle. dog is the slughi, a sort of greyhound, much used in coursing hares and gazelles. Of wild animals there are but few kinds. In the hills north of Nejran and in Oman there lurks a small, fierce tiger, so bold that it readily attacks men. A particular pest is the fahd, or panther, which makes inroads on flocks all over the peninsula. Then there are wolves, foxes, and hyenas, and down in Yemen a few long-tailed, black-faced monkeys. As far north as Bagdad one sees the graceful little jerboa, or kangaroo rat, skipping swiftly over the plain. This tiny creature is white and fawn-colored, with a long tail and powerful hind legs, built for long jumping. The Bedouins eat it, its flavor being similar to that of rabbit. CRUDE TOOLS AND DELICATE FILIGREE The nomad tribes, from necessity, have always tanned their own leather, woven coarse cloth for their zibboons, tents, and blankets, and practiced rough blacksmith work, saddlery, and sandal-making. In towns like Maskat and Jidda some beautifully woven stuffs are produced, including silk and gold-thread embroid ery and silver and gold filigree work, bracelets, anklets, spangles, and other jewelry. There are also a few skilled metal-workers at Maskat, as at Bagdad, whose work in steel is highly regarded. Swords, spears, and knives are largely manufactured, all by hand, and the trade in them is brisk and constant. But all over Arabia production is cur tailed by crude, primitive tools, the utter absence of lathes, drills, etc., and often by the scarcity of raw material, much of which is imported. Few skilled work men, and no factories at all as we know them, with machinery, warehouses, and long pay-rolls, exist anywhere in Arabia. There are not even any good brick- 384
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