Most persons, no matter what their race or country, spend a large
proportion of their time at home. The home is the center of many
interests and activities, and it reflects quite accurately the state
of civilization of a people. In this chapter let us take a look into
the homes of the shepherd Hebrews. We shall visit one of their
encampments; perhaps we shall be reminded of a camp of the gypsies.


A CLUSTER OF BLACK TENTS

Here on a gentle hillside sloping up from a tiny brook, is a cluster
of ten or a dozen black tents. Further down the valley sheep are
grazing. Two or three mongrel dogs rush out to bark at us as we
approach, until a harsh voice calls them back. A dark man with bare
brown arms comes out to meet us, wearing a coarse woolen cloak with
short sleeves. Half-naked children peer out from the tent flaps.

=The inside of the tents.=--Our friend is eager to show us hospitality
and invites us to enter his tent. It is a low, squatting affair, and
we have to stoop low to enter the opening in the front. We note that
the tent-cloth is a woolen fabric not like our canvas of to-day. It is
stretched across a center-pole, with supports on the front and back,
while the edges are pinned to the ground much as our tents are. There
are curtains within the tent partitioning off one part for the men,
and another for the women and children. There are mats on the ground
to sit on and to sleep on at night.


PREPARING FOOD