Princeton Expeditions to Syria (1899, 1904-1905, 1909)

February 12 Lincoln's Birthday 1905

Bosra 9:00 A.M. Temp 42 ° Baro S. 26.72 Baro L 27.03 nimbus all - rainy night. calm to light var. clouds moving E. to N.E.

Mohammed, our guide (continued) He is newly married to a Beduin women, young & good looking but with her face tatooed all over. The Beduins or Nomads consider people who live in houses as beneath them, and speak scornfully of the Hauranī (Ḥawârineh, plural) who live in villages of the Hauran plain. Mohammed's wife was an orphan without brothers and so M. bought her from her uncle and got her cheap. The chief of her tribe was very angry when he heard about it and made one or two attempts to kill M. His life was so much in danger, that he loaded a camel with rice and sugar, and stole up to the Arabs tent unawares, presented the peace offering and craving pardon. Of course his prayers were granted, and now he lives in peace and happiness with his bride. You know it is the custom among the Arabs, that if your worst enemy, even a man that has killed your son, can get near enough to your tent to touch the ropes, he is safe and must be treated as a guest and given food, shelter and protection. He is also safe from harm as far as you are concerned for 3 1/3 days after leaving. After that time all of your bread which he has eaten is supposed to have passed out of his system, and then you are priveleged to renew hostilities.

Rec'd. to-day letters from Father, Mother, Marian Thompson, Mrs. Gus Holly Jr. Clarence Porter, & University Club notifying me of my expulsion for non-payment of dues - nice state of affairs. - Poor Gus has rest at last. How much he deserves it! His wife's letter the most beautiful I have ever received.