The mode in which the patriarchs performed their pastoral
migrations will be illustrated, with several differences in
circumstances, by the following extract from Parsons’ Travels: “It was
entertaining enough to see the horde of Arabs decamp, as nothing could
be more regular. First went the sheep and goat herds, each with their
flocks in divisions, according as the chief of each family directed;
then followed the camels and asses, loaded with the tents, furniture,
and kitchen utensils; these were followed by the old men, women, boys,
and girls, on foot. The children that cannot walk are carried on the
backs of the young women, or the boys and girls; and the smallest of the
lambs and kids are carried under the arms of the children. To each tent
belong many dogs, among which are some greyhounds; some tents have from
ten to fourteen dogs, and from twenty to thirty men, women, and
children, belonging to it. The procession is closed by the chief of the
tribe, whom they call emir and father, (emir means prince,) mounted on
the very best horse, and surrounded by the heads of each family, all on
horses, with many servants on foot. Between each family is a division or
space of one hundred yards, or more, when they migrate; and such great
regularity is observed, that neither camels, asses, sheep, nor dogs,
mix, but each keeps to the division to which it belongs, without the
least trouble. They had been here eight days, and were going four hours’
journey to the north-west, to another spring of water. This tribe
consisted of about eight hundred and fifty men, women, and children.
Their flocks of sheep and goats were about five thousand, beside a great
number of camels, horses, and asses. Horses and greyhounds they breed
and train up for sale: they neither kill nor sell their ewe lambs. At
set times a chapter in the Koran is read by the chief of each family,
either in or near each tent, the whole family being gathered round, and
very attentive.” Instead of the Koran of modern times, let us conceive
of Abraham, and other patriarchal emirs, collecting their numerous
dependents and teaching them the true religion, and we then see with
what truth they are called the Lord’s “prophets.”
migrations will be illustrated, with several differences in
circumstances, by the following extract from Parsons’ Travels: “It was
entertaining enough to see the horde of Arabs decamp, as nothing could
be more regular. First went the sheep and goat herds, each with their
flocks in divisions, according as the chief of each family directed;
then followed the camels and asses, loaded with the tents, furniture,
and kitchen utensils; these were followed by the old men, women, boys,
and girls, on foot. The children that cannot walk are carried on the
backs of the young women, or the boys and girls; and the smallest of the
lambs and kids are carried under the arms of the children. To each tent
belong many dogs, among which are some greyhounds; some tents have from
ten to fourteen dogs, and from twenty to thirty men, women, and
children, belonging to it. The procession is closed by the chief of the
tribe, whom they call emir and father, (emir means prince,) mounted on
the very best horse, and surrounded by the heads of each family, all on
horses, with many servants on foot. Between each family is a division or
space of one hundred yards, or more, when they migrate; and such great
regularity is observed, that neither camels, asses, sheep, nor dogs,
mix, but each keeps to the division to which it belongs, without the
least trouble. They had been here eight days, and were going four hours’
journey to the north-west, to another spring of water. This tribe
consisted of about eight hundred and fifty men, women, and children.
Their flocks of sheep and goats were about five thousand, beside a great
number of camels, horses, and asses. Horses and greyhounds they breed
and train up for sale: they neither kill nor sell their ewe lambs. At
set times a chapter in the Koran is read by the chief of each family,
either in or near each tent, the whole family being gathered round, and
very attentive.” Instead of the Koran of modern times, let us conceive
of Abraham, and other patriarchal emirs, collecting their numerous
dependents and teaching them the true religion, and we then see with
what truth they are called the Lord’s “prophets.”