The news is good, he said
How many people out there recognise this practice in one form or an other? I certainly do and have always thought it was an unnecessary formality whose only useful purpose was breaking the ice between the visiting party and the host. Although its still practiced by many occasionaly, its no longer a necessary hospitality requiremenet and obviously many of the younger generations dont even recognise it.
“Mahsin, whom I identified by his lame leg, called out ’salam alaikum’ and we answered ‘Alaikum as salam.’ Then one behind the other they passed along out line, greeting each of us with the triple nose kiss, nose touching nose on the right side, left side, and again on the right. They then formed up facing us. Tamtaim said to me, ‘Ask their news’; but I answered ‘No, you do it. You are the oldest.’ Tamtaim called out, ‘your news?’, Mahsin answered, ‘the news is good.’ Again Tamtaim asked, ‘is anyone dead? Is anyone gone?’ Back came the immediate answer, ‘No! - don’t say such a thing.’ Question ans answer were as invariable as the responses in the Litany. No matter what had really happened, they never changed. They might have fought with raiders; half their party might have been killed and be lying still unburied; their camels might have been looted; any affliction might have befallen them - starvation, drought, or sickness, and still at this first formal questioning they would answer, ‘The news is good.’ They now returned to the camels, unsaddled them, and , after hobbling their forelegs, turned them loose. We had meanwhile spreads rugs for them, and Tamtaim shouted to bin Anauf to prepare coffee. As soon as this was ready Musallim set a dish of dates before them; then, standing, he poured out coffee and handed the cup to Mahsin and to the others in their order of importance. They drank, ate dates, and were again served with coffee. Now at last we should get the real news.“
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Wonderful - where is the text from?
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:38 pm
“Arabian Sands” By Wilfred Thesiger (Otherwise known as Mubarak Bin London) describing his crossing of the Empty Quarter on foot with tribes of Bedu. He was the 3rd Eropian to attempt this journey and by far the most elaborate when it came to writing about it and the customs of its people.
August 4th, 2007 at 9:34 am
ah i almost guessed it was from thesiger’s writings!
i think it’s very important to keep up the tradition, if nothing it gives a chance for the visitors to catch their breath and absorb their surroundings, and after the hosts have offered them something..you are much more likely to trust a host that has fed you or offered you a drink…now even the salam is begrudgingly given or answered!