people, generically termed Circassians, but including besides Circassians proper members of several other tribes, on the eastern border of Syria and Palestine and in what is now termed Trans-jordania. There are at present about 900 Circassians in Palestine, and a number have latterly been enrolled in the Gendarmerie.
Bosnians.—Similarly, upon the occupation of Bosnia and Hercegovina by Austria in 1878, a number of Moslem Bosnians (who are Islamized Serbs), elected to emigrate into Turkish territory. The Turkish authorities granted facilities to them, and established some families within the ruined city of Caesarea, where the community, now numbering 331 souls, continues to cultivate its lands.
Magharbeh.—The influx of Moslems from North Africa into Syria and Palestine began in the early years of the eighteenth century, when the mercenary infantry of the pashas was composed in part of these people. Some had, indeed, been established in Jerusalem from religious motives from a yet earlier period; while others followed in the nineteenth century in consequence of the French conquest of Algeria. There is a large and ancient settlement of Magharbeh in the low-lying part of the old city of Jerusalem, situated between the Wailing Wall of the Jews and the Dung Gate, also called the 'Gate of the Magharbeh'; its inhabitants were established there by the charity of the Abu Madian waqf. In Galilee the number of Magharbeh is estimated at 1,900.
§ 5. Islam in Palestine.
With the exception of small Shiah colonies (see below under 'Metawileh') the Moslems of Palestine are Sunnis (Traditionists), divided among the four rites (mazhab) approximately in the following proportions:
Shafi | 70% |
Hanbali | 19% |
Hanafi | 10% |
Maliki | 1% |