EMIR ABDULLAH

Evening Star, Issue 18728, 2 September 1924, Page 6

EMIR ABDULLAH

A DWELLER IN TENTS. It was from Jerusalem that I started on one of the most interesting and picturesque of my jouvneyings—a trip into Transjordania (writes Loihrop Stoddard in ‘Scribner’s Magazine’). Transjordania i> an autonomous Arab State under British protection, ruled by the Emir Abdullah, one of tho sons of tho King of Hedjaz. Having been invited by the Emir to visit him in his club, I started from Jcmsalem to make tho promised trip. The start was, perforce, an early one, for it was highly preferable to cross the Jordan Valley before the morning was well spent. . . . Crossing the Jordan by a narrow' bridge, I was over the frontier and in Transjordania. I felt at once that I had crossed a real border.’ . . . Transjordania Is a high

plateau country, lying at about the same level as Jerusalem. This implied a stiff climb of about 4,000 ft among grim mountains, along narrow, stony roads skirting deep valleys. * The Emir, however, docs not live in Amman itself. Good Arab that,he is, lie does not like city life, but prefers to dwell in tents. Accordingly he resides on a hilltop a couple of miles from town and well above the valley. Thither 1 motored, and breasting the steep elope camo upon a sight which might in many ways have been taken bodily from the remote past. The hilltop was covered with tents, pitched casually here and there, with no apparent alignment, some of white canvas, others of black goats’ hair. Among the tents moved human figures in flowing white Arab'..garb, some afoot, others mounted on Mettlesome Arab horses. On the outskirts of the encampment were numerous horses, donkeys, and camels, while the approaches were guarded by sentinels. In the centre of the camp the Emir's tents stood, conspicuous by their size. Thither I was conducted, and ushered into the presence of my host. The Emir Abdullah is a truly delightful person. Eresh-complexioned, with brown beard and well-cut features, he has a pleasant smile and frank, _ laughing eyes, which become almost boyish when they light up at an interesting anecodte or a humorous story. His Bedouin head-dress and Arab robes become him well, and when mounted on his fine Arab charger he looks every inch a desert chieftain. The interiors of the Emir's tents are lined with gorgeous Arab draperies and carpeted with fine mgs, the whole forming a picture of Oriental magnificence which will long remain in my memory.