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restaurant whose staff are waiting for us as we had called
them before our arrival to prepare our breakfast. Thus
carpets are spread and breakfast is ready, but none of us
has the necessary appetite for eating; we are rather alert
and full of the eagerness of hunters.
Gradually, all the comrades are spread over the wide
expanse of the desert, which looks like a gigantic tray on
which are strewn pebbles of various sizes. Between these
pebbles are hidden the stones called the Saudi Berlanti,
some samples of which our guide has shown us when we
were still in the bus. At first, we started collecting what
looked like them; but we gradually began to distinguish
the genuine ones. Soon cries of joy and satisfaction were
heard. The small stones that were found were slightly
different from the others. They are like them, transparent
and covered with dust. But when looked at through the
slanting rays of the morning sun, the difference soon
became apparent. The more transparent and radiant the
sample, the more valuable and expensive it would be.
The size of these stones is not big, ranging between half
a centimeter and a centimeter in diameter, though larger
ones are sometimes discovered. One of our companions
was lucky enough to find some stones the size of half a
finger. From such stones, if free of internal fissures, it is
possible to make a magnificent trickle, the size of a drop,
that is worn like a necklace.
Where did such accumulations of quartz pebbles come
from? It is difficult to find an answer to that question. It
is obvious, however, that huge quartz veins have at some
time, at some place, been dug and scattered all over these
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areas. As far as I know, no such phenomenon has been
observed anywhere else in the vast expanse of the desert.
Foreign businessmen had been, for more than twenty
years, bringing to this small area, twice a week, tourists
who are full of curiosity, and so far it does not look
like they are likely to stop doing that. Such a trip with
breakfast and light lunch costs quite a lot of money, with
which one can buy 5 to 7 ready made exquisite polished
stones of that type. But to my knowledge, no one feels
sorry for the costs sustained, because no amount of money
can buy the unique sensation and impression created by
the endless morning desert with its light mirage locations
and the overwhelming eagerness of hunters, the spirit of
competition, the excitement of the pleasant discovery of
the expected stone.
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A Wedding Ceremony
Although the Saudi community have found themselves,
out of the bleu, in the age of modernity, I believe they
will not soon escape from the chains of their traditions
that go back to the good old days. This is because the
disposition of the people of this country is not as flexible
as economy and production, for example. Thus traditions
are predominant, imperative and so firmly established
that they cannot change, let alone disappear within such a
short period of time.
This explains also the ceremonies associated with
marriage, the wedding ceremony and all that precedes or
follows that in the new phase of life for newly married
couples anywhere in world. Although this event is extremely
important, yet exceptional importance is attributed to it in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and relatives on both sides
have special roles to play in this process.
Saudis as a whole are remarkable people. They have
a tall and graceful stature, sharp features and dense hair.
Their teeth, which, it seems to me, is a result of the good
care they take of their teeth through the use of the “siwak”,
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which is a kind of tooth brush that consists of a stick taken
from the branches of “Arak” trees that grow in the region of
the city of Taif, a bunch of which can be bought from rural
sellers near the major stores and trade centers. The end of
the stick (siwak) must be bitten for softening it. Then the
gum is massaged and the teeth are cleaned therewith. This
plant has a pleasant and quite refreshing taste. For many
men, this becomes a habit and white usual smile generally
reveals an orderly row of snow an amusing activity,
particularly in view of the fact that Saudis rarely smoke.
This may be explained by the fact that Islam prohibits
smoking, as it is a kind of narcotic that stupefies the mind.
Moreover, the annual fasting during the whole month of
Ramadan is not conducive to the spread and consolidation
of this harmful and hateful habit.
There is another striking feature of the outward
appearance of Saudis, namely their eyes, which are big and
large, shaded by thick and long eyelashes, and which have
black pupils against a wide white shining area, the white
color being pervaded with a bluish color. These eyes have
been the subject of many poems in Arabic literature and are
called “hoor” when applied to the eyes of beautiful lasses.
Such eyes are usually confined to the desert population,
who are known for their independent spirit and unfettered
conduct, who have got used, throughout the ages, to lift
their gaze towards an endless clear, blue sky.
Saudi lasses are usually exceptionally beautiful,
although I must admit that those I was destined to meet
were essentially representatives of the well to do section
of the community, where natural selection takes place.
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