BACKSHEESH! BACKSHEESH!

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1751, 27 September 1905, Page 73

BACKSHEESH! BACKSHEESH!

(By a Banker.)

The pleasure of a journey in the East is somewhat marred by the inveterate mendicancy and importunate and clamorous solicitations for “backsheesh” which assail the traveller on all sides. It is true that travellers have only themselves—or rather their predecessors —to blame for this, for if all were steadily and determ'inately to refuse to give to professional beggars, except, ol course, for services rendeied. the annoyance would doubtless very soon cease; the great majority, however, especially in the case of ladies, continue to stimulate the practice by complying with these

perpetual solicitations; the more violent and peremptory the demand the larger being the amount they give. Perhaps, of all places in the world, Nazareth lias the most unenviable reputation for its beggars. If it were the same in old time as now it is not surprising that the question was wont to be asked: “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Immediately upon walking out of the door of the Hotel or Hospice the traveller is surrounded by a horde of Arabs and other natives, some of whom importunate him to buy their wares, others simply vociferating for money, money. To say “No, no,” in English is utterly useless; a few appropriate (and easily acquired) words in Arabic are, however, much more effectual; though the most effective means of escape is absolutely to ignore them and to take not the slightest notice of their importunities. If this be done they very soon get tired and drop off one by one. Frequently, however, one solitary begga" pertinaciously follows for a considerable time, defying all attempts to shake him off. In such a case perhaps the readiest means of driving him or her away is to turn round and face the beggar, and, with appropriate cabalistic motion of the hands, in imitation of O’Connell upon an historic occasion, to objurgate- her as a “down-right isosceles dodecahedric bifurcated parallelepiped.” This would probably be too> terrible a malediction for even the most hardened of the craft. In Italy, where begging is also very rife the trade is plied more by the art of blandishment. Ail attractive child of about fifteen will run up to a most grave and reverend seigneur, asking him to buy some matches, which she puts into l his pocket' whether he likes it or not. She then commences to kiss the back of her hand, then impudently rubbing it upon his hand, whereupon in order to get rid of her she probably receives a. few centimes. And doubtless as long as time shall last will begging continue. And then, when time shall be no more, when the angels shall have separated the righteous from the Wicked, and those whose misdeeds have been expiated by the Saviour’s atonement have been translated to the gloryland; then will, for them, all hardships cease, and for the neverending aeons of eternity will they revel in joys and felicities such as the mind of man is altogether unable to conceive.