Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates Vol 2 - The Search For Mecca

CH. XXVI.] Absence of Superstitions. 223
some time or otlier of our lives stood face to face
with it. In the desert, no one comes back from
such an interview, for the first serious iUness kills.
The Bedouins know that they Avill die because they
have seen others die ; but they have never known
what it is to be in the jaws of the lion. Thus, with
the terror of death the necessity of another life
ceases.
It does not present itself to their imagination, and
their fancy has never taken wing beyond the grave.
Of superstitions I have noticed singularly few in
the desert, and none that will stand the test of a sacrifice
of real advantao-e. The Bedouins have indeed
certain prejudices as to colour and markings in their
mares, and account this lucky and that unlucky ;
but none would reject a good animal for a mere
fanciful reason. They have no lucky days or lucky
months. They attach no omen to the path of birds
in the air or of beasts on the plain. Tliey dream
no dreams, and see no apparitions. They dress,
indeed, their children in black, and keep them unwashed
for fear, they say, of the evil eye ; but I
would as soon account for it by the common reason
—custom. Their ejaculations, too, are mildly superstitious,
but no one would quarrel with another
for using or not using them. The fact is, they care
exceedingly little about these things and a great
deal for material advantage.*
* The boy Ghanim, who travelled with us, wore au amulet on
Shammar as a protec-
his arm, which he had brought from Jebel
tion from bullets ; but he was ashamed to have it seen.