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

CH. xvi.] A Bedonin Bard. 13
till Al3d-ul-Kerim's death. He liad shared in the
flight of Amsheli to Nejd, but had returned and
gone to Suliman ibn IMcrshid's tent and lived with
the Gomussa, till his new master too fell a victim to
the Turks, and then Faris had taken him back. He
now desired to return to his own people, but would
follow us meanwhile whithersoever we would.
Our caravan, with the tents and mares, had remained
outside the town, for we had taken this
precaution to
preserve our liberty of action, in case
of difficulties arising ; and every day we went out
to spend some hours with our camels, and see that all
was going on well with them, and learn the news
from outside. On these occasions Glianim would
bring out a curious little fiddle he had with him,
made of parchment, and a bow strung with horsehair,
and, on this very unpretending instrument,
would play to us and sing impromptu songs, some
of which were pretty and all
exceedingly interesting.
There was one, especially our favourite, which began
" WhenAbd-ul-Kerim was dead and all his tribe were
scattered," and another, whose tune might have
passed in Spain as a Malaguena. At these times
Ghdnim's face had a look almost of inspiration as,
with Imitted brows and trembling lips,
he produced
an alternation of chords and discords, worthy of
Wagner himself, and sang the glories of the departed
heroes he had served. With all this, he was an intelligent
lad and could turn his hand to anything,
and to him we entrusted the mission of finding out