FORD OUSTS CAMEL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 May 1926, Page 9

FORD OUSTS CAMEL

JpOK countless’ centuries Arab has raided Arab, relying upon the camel ns a means of traversing the wide spaces which separate one desert encampment from another. But in this century of change, the time-honoured “ship of the desert” seems doomed to be replaced by the motor car, for one of the Iraq tribes has reeentl.v carried out a raid against another in Syrian territory by means of three Ford cars, writes the' Baghdad correspondent of the Morning Post. The tail, bearded figure of Ajil at Yawwar, the sliiehh of the tribe concerned, lias several times been seen, in flowing Arab dress, driving his Ford in the streets of Baghdad; and the incongruity of the sight will soon cease to be striking.

ARAB RAIDERS’ TRANSPORT

for though.to drive :i ear 1 hag in the past been considered beneath the dignity 0 f any tribal sheikh, the discovery of the martial use to which a Ford can be put has, in the eyes of the Bedouin, robbed the once menial task of its shame. Raiding and counter-raiding is a pas-, time as popular with the Arab as football with the Englishman, and very, little more dangerous. Loss of life is rather the exception than the rule, and 'is looked upon as a regrettable accident. This immemorial attitude of mind is not likely-to change, whether camel or motor car be the chosenmeans of transport, and the new .element which lias entered intolthe conduct of tribal feuds need therefore cause no anxiety to the authorities.