THE fidelity of Eastern shepherds to their flocks is proverbial. Not a few manage to obtain an old long-barreled gun, or a pistol, especially, in especially In districts exposed to the Bedouins, as for instance to the south of Gaza; but most of them have, in addition, a strong oaken club or bludgeon, two feet or more in length, its round or oblong head stuck full of heavy iron nails, a terrible weapon in the hands of a strong brave man. A loop at the handle serves to hang it to the “leathern girdle” universally sworn by peasants and the humbler classes, to bind together the unbleached cotton shirt which is their whole dress by day. When it is passed over the wrist, this loop is also a security that the weapon shall not be lost, even if knocked out of the hand in a struggle.
In the mountains, cleft as they often are by narrow impassable ravines, a sheep may easily wander too near the edge, and be in danger of falling into the gloomy depths below. Dr. Duff noticed an interesting incident associated with such a scene. “When on a narrow bridle-path,” says he, “cut out on the face of a precipitous ridge. I observed a native shepherd with his flock, which, as usual, followed him. He frequently stopped and looked back; and if he saw a sheep creeping up too far, or coming too near the edge, would go back, and, putting the crook round one of its hind legs, would gently pull it to him.” This is the shepherd’s staff; sometimes bent, thus, into a crook, but more commonly a long, straight oak stick, often cased at its lower end in iron, to beat off the thief or wild beast. This staff to help and the club to protect are the staff and the rod with which God comforts His people (Psa. 23:44Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)).
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