14 AUTHOR'S PREFACE

legendary in America as the hosts of Gog and Magog, but
who have since become more definitely known because of
the wild revolt they led last year against the French in
Syria.

I listened fascinated while Daoud talked, of his cousins
who lived in feudal castles built of lava rock, among
the mountains on the edge of the great Arabian desert;
of slaves with jeweled scimitars; falcons, hounds; white-
veiled hareem beauties; horsemen with long, braided hair
and flashing spears.

My sleeping dreams surged—this time irresistible.
Money stood in the way, and also the current belief that
Christians who ventured among those legendary moun-
tains did not always come back alive.

But when Daoud, after other evenings, realized how
much I was in earnest, he said:

"You will find my father easily in Beirut. He is the
Druse historian, Suleiman bey Izzedin. You have but
to get off the boat at Beirut and ask of the first native
Arab you see, 'Wein beit Izzedin?9 [Where is the house
of Izzedin?] and they will take you to him. When my
father learns that you are my friend, he will give you
letters and camels. And with these, you will go to the
sheiks of the mountain. Once in the mountain, you will
require no money, and you will be dakhile [sacred as a
guest], in my father's face and in the face of Allah."

It was not, however, toward the Druses alone that
Arabia drew me. I had read Doughty's immortal book,
and I wanted, above all else, to go among the Bedouins,
the true desert tribes who dwell in the black tents. In
that part of the adventure, Daoud declared, neither he
nor his father could help me—but there was a certain