XXI.

SHEPHERDS AND FLOCKS.

THE shepherd is now, as he ever has been, the picturesque and prominent figure in Oriental life. No subject has inspired such enthusiasm, or given greater attractiveness to the sketches of painter's pencil and artist's brush than the shepherd and his sheep; and no songs are sweeter in literature than those which the poet sings of the ideal shepherd life in the Orient. There are no stories of the imagination, there are no historical narratives that so universally interest young and old as the adventures and experiences in Oriental shepherd life. They have carried with them more lessons, brought deeper impressions, and inspired nobler results than almost any other form of literature or art.

241. Shepherd Life.—The shepherd is secluded from society, living in the fields and sparse woodlands with his flock, wearing simple garments, eating plain food, satisfied with bare necessities, and none of the comforts of social life. In the summer he dwells upon the hillsides or mountain slopes with his flocks, where he has pure air, sweet water, basking in the sunshine of pasture or in the shade of green foliage and bright flowers. He may be a specimen of natural simplicity; he is an example of simple virtue; his kindness is proverbial, usually he is truthful, temperate in his language, and kept from many of the evils of civilized society. He is skilled with the sling or the gun, is said to be able to hit a hair, if he can see it, is gentle with his flocks, keen to find fertile and safe pastures, and to protect them from the heat of summer and the cold of winter. He is equally bold in defending them from the wild beast or the robber. The modern shepherd is aided by a courageous, powerful, and well-trained dog. He has a wonderful memory, which retains the name of every sheep. The flocks sometimes contain several hundred, and

yet each one has a name and the shepherd knows it, and calls every sheep by its proper name. He is sharp to discover a missing one, and searches until he finds it or finds out what has become of it, whether it has fallen into the river or been seized by a wild beast. The hurt sheep or lamb he hunts out, dresses its wounds or binds its broken bones with skill and success. He thus becomes a surgeon, not only for sheep and goats, but also sometimes for people. He is a reverent student of the stars.

242. A Poet. His provisions are in a skin bag, slung on his shoulders, chiefly bread and salt. His cooking utensils are a copper bucket and a bowl. His weapons are a long staff or club, a sling, a knife under his girdle, and, in modern times, a pistol and a long flint-lock musket. His memory is a wonderful book. Out of it he recites poetry made by other shepherds or himself, poems which the great poets have sometimes worked over and molded into beautiful forms; some of the most brilliant passages of their poems having been borrowed from the plainer, but forcible, thoughts of these shepherds. He eats his quiet meal, thanks God, and if his flock is safe from wild beasts or brigands, he takes out his pipe, or flute, and plays some weird tune or sings some of his expressive and beautiful verses.

243. His Loving Care.-Mr. Haddad tells of watching shepherds with flocks upon the slopes of Mount Hermon: "Each shepherd watched his flock closely to see how they fared. When he found a new-born lamb he put it in the folds of his aba, or great coat, since it would be too feeble to follow the mother. When his bosom was full, he put lambs on his shoulders, holding them by the feet, or in a bag or basket on the back of a donkey, until the little ones were able to follow the mothers.

"He trains his sheep to come at his call, to go in order, in twos or fours, in squares and circles; one from the outer circle in a flock of a thousand will come when its name is called." It is the voice of the shepherd that the sheep recognizes.

A stranger once declared to a Syrian shepherd that the sheep knew the dress and not the voice of their master. The shepherd said it was the voice they knew. To prove this, he exchanged dresses with the stranger, who went among the sheep in the shepherd's dress, calling the sheep in imitation of the shepherd's voice, and tried to lead them. They knew not his voice, but when the shepherd called them, though he was disguised, the sheep ran at once at his call.1 The reader must not forget that an Oriental shepherd never drives his sheep, but always goes before them, and leads them, and they follow him. Even when some unruly sheep does not heed his call, but starts to stray away, the shepherd puts a stone in his sling, and deftly lands it just in front of the straying sheep as a warning, which usually brings the wandering one back to the flock.

244. Syrian Sheep.-Sheep are usually kept on the plains, hills, and mountains. Each flock is by itself, under the care of a shepherd. The Syrians think that sheep in the Orient are superior to those found in America, being, as they claim, much prettier, having more intelligent and nicer faces. The Syrian sheep is counted meek, gentle, and obedient, going peaceably and quietly, seldom quarreling with each other. The milk is very rich, and some Orientals prefer the butter made of it to that made from the milk of the cow. The flesh is sweet and delicious, and Orientals prefer it to beef or goat's flesh.

The shepherd must take the responsibility of his flock, finding it good and fertile pasture, and when one pasture is eaten bare, take his flock to another, sometimes over dangerous rocky cliffs, but always by the safest and easiest path.

245. Stray Sheep.-Sometimes a sheep or goat gets venturesome and wild, and runs away to the woods or the caves. The shepherd does not get angry at the sheep because it did not hear his voice when he called it back, nor will he let it perish. He leaves his flock in the hands of an assistant, or 1 John 10: 5.