The Handbook of Palestine/Part 4
PART IV.
COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION FOR
TOURISTS.
§ 1. Palestine as a Tourist Resort.
Attractions of Palestine.—Palestine as a resort for tourists possesses unique attractions, religious, historical, climatic and archaeological, which need not be enlarged upon here.
By the quickest route, under normal conditions, Palestine is reached from London in six to seven days and from Cairo in eighteen hours.
The best season to visit Palestine is from January to June.
For climate, see Part V.
Communications.—Rapid and comfortable communication between Egypt and Palestine is provided daily by trains from Kantara East. In Palestine itself communication is assured by an efficient railway system, by motor-car services and by an extensive road system, all the first and second class roads being suitable for motoring.
Hotels.—In the principal towns very fair accommodation and cooking can be relied upon. Some of the hotels are not of first-rate European standard, but they are clean, and a stay in them is comfortable.
All the points here mentioned are dealt with in detail below.
Passport Regulations.—
(a) FOR BRITISH SUBJECTS.
1. British passports are issued by the Department of Immigration and Travel, Jerusalem, and by British diplomatic and consular officers abroad. The charge for a British passport is PT. 37. Application should be made on the authorized form obtainable from those authorities.
2. British subjects making their homes or staying for more than three months in Palestine should be registered at the Department of Immigration and Travel.
3. British passports are not valid beyond two years from the date of issue. They may be renewed for four further periods of two years each, after which, or if at any time there be no further space for visas, a fresh passport must be obtained. The fee for each renewal is PT. 10.
4. The passport is only available for travel to the countries named thereon, but may be endorsed for additional countries. The possession of a passport so endorsed does not, however, exempt the holder from compliance with any immigration regulations in force in British or foreign countries or from the necessity of obtaining a visa where required.
5. Passports endorsed as valid for the British Empire are also available for travelling to territory under British protection or mandate, excluding, however, Palestine, Mesopotamia or Egypt, for which countries the passport must be specially endorsed.
6. During the two years for which a British passport is valid, no further endorsement is required for journeys to the countries for which the passport has already been made available, unless the contrary is stated.
7. For journeys to countries other than those for which the passport is already available, endorsements should be obtained.
8. For journeys to countries other than British Possessions, visas must be obtained from the foreign consular representatives concerned.
(b) FOR PALESTINIANS.
1. Laissez-Passers valid for one year are issued by the Department of Immigration and Travel at Jerusalem, Haifa, or Jaffa.
2. Holders of Laissez-Passers desiring to travel in the British Empire or to territory which is under British protection or mandate must obtain the necessary British visas, either from the Department of Immigration and Travel in Palestine or from His Majesty's representatives abroad. British visas, unless otherwise endorsed, are valid for one year.
3. Holders of Laissez-Passers who desire to travel to countries other than British Possessions must obtain visas from the foreign consular representatives concerned.
(c) FOR SUBJECTS OF OTHER STATES.
1. Passports are issued by the Consular Representatives of Foreign Countries.
2. The regulations regarding British and Foreign visas, mentioned in (b) 2 and 3 above apply also to the holders of Foreign passports.
For list of Foreign Consuls, see Part VII.
Health Arrangements for Tourists.—Specially conducted parties of tourists may land and proceed immediately on their tour, except in cases where plague or cholera has occurred on board the ship during the voyage or where the ship has called at a cholera-infected port within five days of reaching Palestine.
No individual or personal inspection of tourists will be made, provided the following procedure is complied with:
(a) the Medical Officer of the ship will inform the Quarantine Medical Officer at the Port of the state of health of the whole party;
(b) the Tourist Agent concerned will supply the Quarantine Medical Officer with a nominal roll in duplicate of each party landing for a special itinerary;
(c) the Tourist Agent conducting the party will report the state of health on the third and fifth days after the party lands to the District Health Office of the town in which the party chances to be on these days.
§ 2. Routes to Palestine.
Shipping.—Pre-war shipping and transport conditions are not yet fully re-established. At the time of writing the following are the details available:
(a) Prince Line.—From London—Gibraltar—Malta—Alexandria—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian coast ports.
Monthly calls.
Agents: A. Cassar, Jaffa; S. Catoni & Son, Haifa.
(b) Wilson Line.—From Hull—Gibraltar—Alexandria—Jaffa and Syrian coast ports.
Monthly calls.
Agents: Messrs. Coxworth, Jaffa.
(c) Moss Line.—From Liverpool and Swansea—Gibraltar—Malta—Alexandria—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian coast ports.
Monthly calls.
Agents: Messrs. Pardess & Co., Jaffa; S. Catoni & Son, Haifa.
(d) Ellerman Line.—From Liverpool and London—Gibraltar—Malta—Alexandria—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian coast ports.
Monthly calls.
Agents: Messrs. Pardess & Co., Jaffa; S. Catoni & Son, Haifa.
(e) Khedivial Mail Line.—From Alexandria—Port-Said—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian coast ports.
Weekly calls.
Agents: A. Cassar, Jaffa; S. Nassif, Haifa.
(f) Fabre Line.—From Marseilles—Mediterranean Ports to Alexandria—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian coast ports.
Bi-monthly calls.
Agents: W. Tamari, Jaffa; V. B. Motawa, Haifa.
(g) Messageries Maritimes.—From Marseilles via Italy to Alexandria—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian ports.
Bi-monthly calls.
Agents: D. N. Tadros, Jaffa; S. Catoni & Son, Haifa.
(h) Servizi Marittimi.—From Genoa-Italian coast ports—to Alexandria—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian ports.
Weekly calls.
Agents: E. Alonzo, Jaffa; A. Picaloga, Haifa.
(i) Marittima Italiana.—From Genoa-Italian coast ports—to Alexandria—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian ports.
Bi-monthly calls.
Agents: M. Alonzo, Jaffa; M. Khouri, Haifa.
(j) Lloyd Triestino.—From Trieste—Brindisi—Alexandria—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian ports.
Weekly calls.
Agents: A. Mantura, Jaffa; J. Mantura, Haifa.
(k) Kerr Line.—From New York—Mediterranean ports—Alexandria—Jaffa—Syrian ports—India, etc.
Monthly calls.
Agents: J. Pascal, Jaffa.
(l) Deutsch-Levant Linie.—From Germany—Gibraltar—Malta—Alexandria—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian ports.
Bi-monthly calls.
Agents: J. Kuebler, Jaffa; Messrs. Kirchner & Co., Haifa.
(m) Affreteurs Réunis.—From Marseilles—Alexandria—Jaffa and Syrian ports.
Weekly calls.
Agents: M. Dizengoff, Jaffa.
(n) Deutsch-Orient Line.—From Stettin—Malta—Alexandria—Jaffa—Haifa and Syrian ports.
Bi-monthly calls.
Agents: J. Aberle, Jaffa; Messrs. Kirchner & Co., Haifa.
There are also the following services from Europe to Alexandria and Port-Said:
(a) Anchor Line.—Monthly. From Liverpool—Marseilles—Port-Said.
(b) Bibby Line.—Bi-monthly. From Liverpool—Marseilles—Port-Said.
10% rebate for Government Officials.
(c) British India.—Bi-monthly. From London—Marseilles—Port-Said.
(d) City & Hall Lines.—Bi-monthly. From Liverpool or London—Marseilles—Port-Said.
(e) Lloyd Triestino.—Weekly. From Trieste—Brindisi—Alexandria.
20% rebate for Government Officials.
(f) Orient Line.—Monthly. From London—Toulon—Naples—Port-Said.
(g) P. & O. Mail Steamers.—Weekly. From London—Marseilles—Port-Said.
(h) P. & O. Intermediate Line.—Bi-monthly. From London—Marseilles—Port-Said.
(i) Rotterdam Lloyd.—Bi-monthly. From Marseilles to Port-Said.
(j) Union Castle Line.—Monthly. From England—Marseilles—Port-Said.
(k) Servizi Marnittimi.—Weekly—From Genoa—Naples—Syracuse—Venice—Brindisi—Alexandria.
20% rebate for Government Officials.
(l) Messageries Maritimes.—Bi-monthly. From Marseilles to Alexandria.
20% rebate for Government Officials.
For Coast and Harbour Regulations, see Part V.
§ 3. Inland Communications.
(a) RAILWAYS.
The Sinai Military Railway (Standard Gauge—4′ 8½″) runs from Kantara East on the Suez Canal across the desert of Sinai to Rafa, the boundary between Egypt and Palestine. Under arrangements with the British Army Authorities this line is operated by the Palestine Page:Harry Charles Luke and Edward Keith-Roach - The Handbook of Palestine (1922).djvu/135 Page:Harry Charles Luke and Edward Keith-Roach - The Handbook of Palestine (1922).djvu/136 Page:Harry Charles Luke and Edward Keith-Roach - The Handbook of Palestine (1922).djvu/137 Page:Harry Charles Luke and Edward Keith-Roach - The Handbook of Palestine (1922).djvu/138 Page:Harry Charles Luke and Edward Keith-Roach - The Handbook of Palestine (1922).djvu/139 Rules as regards Lights.—Every vehicle standing or travelling on any public highway between sunset and sunrise shall be lighted as follows:
(i) Animal-drawn vehicles shall carry two lights, one in front on the left or off side and one in rear;
(ii) bicycles and tricycles shall carry one light in front;
(iii) trailers shall carry one light in rear;
(iv) every motor vehicle of four wheels shall carry a white reflector light on each side of the front part of the vehicle, and a red light at the left side of the back part. Every motor vehicle of less than four wheels shall carry a white light in front and a red light or a red reflector at the back.
An Ordinance was passed in July, 1921, setting forth the conditions under which vehicles are licensed.
No vehicle is allowed to be driven on any road until the owner has obtained a licence to keep such vehicle.
No vehicle having a carrying capacity exceeding three tons shall be driven on any road.
Driving Licences.—The age-limit for the granting of a driving licence is 17 years in the case of a car and 14 years in that of a motor-cycle.
The usual rules apply to Palestine with reference to production of driving licence for Police Inspection, stopping when called upon, endorsement of licence, etc.
Special provisions for Motor Vehicles.—Motor vehicles must be registered with the Police, who will assign a separate number to each vehicle.
The cost of a licence for private motor-cars is, for a sitting capacity of 1 to 5 persons, £E. 8 per annum, and of 6 to 12 persons, £E. 12 perannum. £E. 1·500 m/ms. per annum is payable for a motor-cycle, and £E. 2 per annum for motor-cycle and side-car. The cost of registration is PT. 50 and PT. 25 respectively.
Foreign Motor Vehicles.—The owner of a motor vehicle registered abroad, who, being resident abroad, brings such vehicle into Palestine while on a visit, must comply with the rules above mentioned regarding the licensing of the vehicle and the driver, but he is not liable to pay the fees for a licence unless his stay in Palestine exceeds four months.
No person shall in any circumstances drive a motor vehicle on a road at a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour, and the Director of Public Security has powers for making regulations regarding the maximum speed in any area. In Jersualem the maximum speed is 15 miles per hour.
(d) TRANSPORT.
The usual means of transport when motor-cars are not available is by diligences or victorias drawn by two or three horses, and, in the absence of carriage roads, by donkeys and camels.
Arab horses are used to some extent, but donkeys are used largely for conveying tourists to outlying places. Camels are almost entirely used for the transport of goods.
§ 4. Accommodation.
The following are the principal hotels and hospices in Palestine:
Jerusalem.—Hotels: Hotel Allenby (Jaffa Road); Grand New Hotel (inside Jaffa Gate); Olivet House (Hensman's Hotel, near Post Office); Central Hotel (old city); S. John's Hotel (old city).
Hospices: Notre Dame de France (opposite New Gate); Casa Nova (New Gate); Austrian Hospice; German Hospice.
Jericho.—Hotel Belle Vue; Jordan Hotel.
Jaffa.—Cliff Hotel; Jerusalem Hotel; Kaminitz Hotel.
Tel-Aviv.—Herzlia Hotel; Ben Nahom Hotel; Barash Hotel.
Tiberias.—Hotel Tiberias (Grossman's); Tabgha Hospice.
Nazareth.—Galilee Hotel; Franciscan Hospice.
Haifa.—Hotels: Herzlia Hotel; Nassar Hotel; Carmel Hotel; New Hotel.
Hospice: Roman Catholic Hospice.
Village Accommodation.—In the villages accommodation is very scanty, although sometimes it is possible to obtain a room, but as a rule the traveller has to take with him his own provisions, cooking appliances and cook. Village rooms are not recommended, and tents are preferable.
Posts, etc.—See Part V. for information regarding Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones.
§ 5. Books of Reference.
The volume of literature dealing with Palestine is vast. Röhricht's Bibliotheca Geographica Palaestinae (Berlin, 1890) is a catalogue raisonné of the descriptions, manuscript and printed, of the Holy Land written between the years 333 and 1878; and Dr. P. Thomsen's Die Palästina-Literatur, of which three volumes have hitherto appeared (in Leipzig), is a complete bibliography of all works relating to Palestine from 1895 onwards.
A brief classified lst of recent books likely to be most useful to residents and visitors is given below; other more specialized works are noted in those sections of the Handbook to which they have particular reference.
Guide-Books.—Fr. B. Meistermann, O.F.M., Nouveau Guide de Terre Sainte, Paris, 1907.
Macmillan's Guide to Palestine and Syria, London, 1908.
Baedeker's Palestine and Syria, Leipzig, 1912.
Professeurs de Notre Dame de France, La Palestine: Guide Historique et Pratique, Paris, 1912.
H. Pirie-Gordon, Palestine Pocket Guide-Books, 4 vols., Jerusalem, 1918–19.
General.—A. Goodrich-Freer, Inner Jerusalem, London, 1904.
Vicomte E. M. de Vogüé, Syrie, Palestine, Mont Athos, Paris, 1905.
D. S. Margoliouth and W. S. Tyrwhitt, Cairo, Jerusalem, Damascus, London, 1907.
G. L. Bell, The Desert and the Sown, London, 1907.
Canon J. E. Hanauer, The Folk-Lore of the Holy Land, London, 1907; Walks about Jerusalem, London, 1910.
Comte de Kergorlay, Sites delaissés d'Orient, Paris, 1911.
I. Cohen, Zionist Work in Palestine, London, 1911.
J. Fulleylove and J. Kelman, The Holy Land, new edition, London, 1912.
Sir C. Watson, The Story of Jerusalem (Mediaeval Town Series), London, 1912.
A. Forder, Daily Life in Palestine, London, 1912.
E. Reynolds-Ball, Jerusalem, London, 1912.
R. Hichens, The Holy Land, London, 1913.
P. J. Baldensperger, The Immovable East, London, 1913.
N. Bentwich, Palestine of the Jews, London, 1919.
D. Maxwell, The Last Crusade, London, 1920.
C. Diehl, Jérusalem (Les Visites d'Art), Paris, 1921.
G. N. Whittingham, The Home of Fadeless Splendour, London, 1921.
Geography, History and Archaeology.—See in general the Quarterly Statements of the "Palestine Exploration Fund," also the works, published for the Fund, of Sir Walter Besant, Bliss and Dickie, Conder, Harper, Hull, Macalister, Tristram, Sir Charles Wilson and others. The latest archaeological works of importance are the full and admirable monographs of the Dominican Fathers Vincent and Abel of the Ecole Biblique de S. Etienne, Jerusalem, on Jerusalem, Hebron and Bethlehem (Paris, 1914, sqq.).
Marquis de Vogüé, Les Eglises de la Terre Sainte, Paris, 1860.
G. Le Strange, Palestine under the Moslems, London, 1890.
C. S. Clermont-Ganneau, Archaeological Researches in Palestine, London, 1896–99.
Sir W. Besant and E. H. Palmer, Jerusalem: The City of Herod and Saladin, 4th edition, London, 1899.
A. W. Cooke, Palestine in Geography and History, London, 1902.
C. R. Conder, The City of Jerusalem, London, 1909.
Sir G. A. Smith, Historical Geography of the Holy Land, new edition, London, 1917; Jerusalem to 70 A.D., London, 1918; Syria and the Holy Land, London, 1918.
N. Sokolov, History of Zionism, London, 1919.
C. R. Ashbee, Jerusalem, 1918–1920, London, 1921 (cf. § 10 below).
Fiction.—Maurice Hewlett, Richard Yea-and-Nay.
E. S. Stevens, The Mountain of God; Sarah Eden.
George Moore, The Brook Kerith.
Myriam Harry, La Petite Fille de Jerusalem.
Marmaduke Pickthall, The Valley of the Kings; The House of Islam; Oriental Encounters.
§6. Mineral Springs of Palestine.
The Holy Land abounds in mineral springs, as, for instance, at Gadara (east of the Seaof Galilee) and at Hamamim Sulimani (east of the Dead Sea). Their temperature ranges between 80° and 140° Fahrenheit. Intensely saline springs exist along the banks of the Dead Sea, all cathartic and useful in the cases of liver and other diseases. Especially celebrated are the hot springs at Tiberias, which, ever since the Roman occupation, have been renowned for their curative powers, and in bygone ages were compared with the famous waters of Baiae.
The present baths at Tiberias were built by Ibrahim Pasha in 1833 during the Egyptian occupation. Additions were made in 1890 by the Turkish Government, but the accommodation is inferior.
The temperature of these springs is about 143° Fahrenheit, and the waters contain sulphur, chloride of magnesium, and iron. They are in many respects similar to those of Carlsbad. The hot springs of Tiberias are largely frequented, and are reputed to cure chronic rheumatism and various skin diseases.
In Roman times the springs were called Ammaus. Pliny extolled their excellent properties. Roman villas, temples and baths surrounded, and Herod's acropolis crowned, the heights near the thermal baths.
There appear to be two springs, but these are said to have a common origin. The water issues at a temperature of about 150° F. A recent analysis shows the total dissolved salts to be thirty-two parts per thousand parts of water (when cold), a proportion equal to that of sea water. The specific gravity of the water is one thousand and twenty-three (distilled water = 1000). The dissolved salts are chiefly chlorides of sodium, calcium and magnesium, with a smaller proportion of sulphates and carbonates. It has been stated that the water possesses radioactive properties.
§ 7. Weights and Measures.
The metric system is followed by the Government, and its use regulated by Ordinance, but the local weights and measures are still commonly employed. These vary greatly throughout the country, but are, subject to considerable fluctuation, as follows:
(a) LENGTH AND AREA.
| 1 draa or pic | = 67 centimetres—26·38 inches. Cloth measure. |
| 1 draa | = 75 centimetres—29·53 inches. Building and Land measure. |
| 1 donum | = 1600 sq. pics—919 sq. metres—·23 acre. Land measure (4·4 donums to the acre). |
(The official donum is 919 sq. metres; in actual practice the donum ranges between 900 and 1,000 sq. metres.)
(b) WEIGHTS.
| 1 dirhem | = 48·14 grains—3·205 grammes. |
| 1 okka (oke) | = 400 dirhems—1·248 kilogrammes—2·751 lbs. |
| 1 kantar (South) | = 100 rotls—225 okkas—288 kilogrammes—634 lbs. |
| 1 kantar (North) | = 100 rotls—200 okkas—256 kilogrammes—564 lbs. |
| 1 rotl (South) | = 12 okkiahs—2·25 okkas—900 dirhems—2·88 kilogrammes—6·34 lbs. |
| 1 rotl (North) | = 12 okkiahs—2 okkas—800 dirhems—2·56 kilogrammes—5·64 lbs. |
(c) CAPACITY.
| (wheat) | 1 tabbeh | (South) | = 2 midd—4 saʾa—8 rubaʾia—23 kilos—50·6 lbs. |
| (barley) | 1 tabbeh | (South) | = 16 okkas—20 kilogrammes—44 lbs. |
| 1 Galilee kail | (North) | = 50 okkas—62·4 kilogrammes—137·28 lbs. | |
| 1 jarra (oil measure) | = 16 okkas—22 litres—20·2 kilogrammes (olive oil). | ||
Comparative List of Weights and Measures used in Tithes Estimation in Palestine.—Jerusalem, Hebron, Ramallah and Nablus use the tabbeh and kail as the unit. All other Districts and Sub-Districts use the kail as the unit.
| Jerusalem. | 1 tabbeh of wheat | = 8 rotls = 23 kilos. |
| 1 kail of barley | = 7 rotls„ = 21 kilos.„ | |
| Hebron. | 1 tabbeh of wheat | = 9 rotls„ = 28 kilos.„ |
| 1 kail of barley | = 6¼ rotls„ = 20–22 kilos. | |
| Nablus. | 1 tabbeh of wheat | = 13·33 rotls = 40 kilos. |
| 1 tabbeh„ of barley | = 10·66 rotls„ = 32 kilos.„ | |
| 1 tabbeh„ of durra | = 12 rotls„ = 36 kilos.„ | |
| 1 tabbeh„ of lentils | = 13·33 rotls„ = 40 kilos.„ | |
| 1 tabbeh„ of beans | = 13·33 rotls„ = 40 kilos.„ | |
| 1 tabbeh„ of sesame | = 9·75 rotls„ = 29 kilos.„ | |
| 1 tabbeh„ of chickpeas | = 13·33 rotls„ = 40 kilos.„ | |
| 1 tabbeh„ of kersaneh | = 13·75 rotls„ = 40 kilos.„ | |
| Haifa. | 1 kail of wheat | = 28·5 rotls = 64 kilos. |
| 1 kail„ of barley | = 18 rotls„ = 45 kilos.„ | |
| 1 kail„ of durra | = 28·5 rotls„ = 64 kilos.„ | |
| 1 kail„ of lentils | = 28·5 rotls„ = 64 kilos.„ | |
| 1 kail„ of beans | = 28·5 rotls„ = 64 kilos.„ | |
| 1 kail„ of sesame | = 36 okkas = 45 kilos.„ | |
| Shefa Amr. | 1 khail of what | = 80 kilos. |
| 1 kail„ of barley | = 55 kilos.„ | |
| 1 kail„ of sesame | = 44 okkas. | |
| Acre and Marj. | 1 kail of wheat | 28·5 rotls = 72 kilos. |
| 1 kail„ of barley | = 20 rotls„ = 50 kilos.„ |
| Gaza. | 1 kail of barley | =1·50 mashaa |
| = 1·35 saʾa = 20 kilos. | ||
| 1 kail„ of durra | = 1·43 mashaa | |
| = 1·45 saʾa = 30 kilos. | ||
| Beersheba. | 1 kail of wheat | = 22·5 okkas = 10 rotls |
| = 30 kilos. | ||
| 1 kail„ of barley | = 15·78 okkas = 7 rotls | |
| = 21 kilos. | ||
| 1 kail„ of lentils | = 22·5 okkas = 10 rotls | |
| = 30 kilos. | ||
| 1 kail„ of beans | = 22·5 okkas = 10 rotls | |
| = 30 kilos. |
The figures are only approximate, as the relationships vary in the Districts themselves.
Olives and Olive Oil.—In Nazareth olives are measured by the kail, which equals 70 kilos. In Jerusalem, Jaffa and Hebron they are measured by weight.
Olive oil is reckoned in Jerusalem and Jaffa by the jarra, which equals 6 rotls or 17·500 kilos. In Nazareth it is measured by the rotl, which equals 2 okkas or 2½ kilos.
Currency.—For currency, see Part V., § 3.
Time.—The time adopted in Palestine is Eastern European time, which is two hours later than Greenwich.
§ 8. Table of Sunrise and Sunset in Palestine.
| Sunrise. | Sunset. | ||
| A.M. | P.M. | ||
| January | 1 | 6.50 | 4.38 |
| February | 1 | 6.31 | 4.57 |
| March | 1 | 6.03 | 5.25 |
| April | 1 | 5.28 | 6.00 |
| May | 1 | 4.58 | 6.30 |
| June | 1 | 4.35 | 6.53 |
| July | 1 | 4.32 | 6.46 |
| August | 1 | 4.49 | 6.39 |
| September | 1 | 5.18 | 6.10 |
| October | 1 | 5.51 | 5.37 |
| November | 1 | 6.24 | 5.04 |
| December | 1 | 6.46 | 4.42 |
§ 9. Festivals.[1]
The Great Feast of the year with the Moslems is that of the Sacrifice (ʾId al-Adha; the Turkish Qurban Bairam), celebrated on the tenth day of the Pilgrimage Month. Among the Beduin a camel, if possible, is sacrificed; elsewhere a sheep or goat. Scarcely less popular is that which is celebrated on the first day of the month Shawwal, which follows the fasting month of Ramazan; this is kept with enthusiasm even among tribes which neglect the fast. Among the Beduin an animal is slaughtered in every tent whose owners can afford the expense; poorer families club together to provide one. In the towns and villages the people wear new clothes, and spend part of the day visiting the graves of their relations. The Christian Easter attracts great numbers of pilgrims to Jerusalem, chiefly for the purpose of witnessing the sacred fire issue from the Holy Sepulchre on Easter Eve; the notion that this is miraculous, which was long believed, is now scarcely maintained. About the same time as the Christian Holy Week the Moslems of Jerusalem and the neighbourhood celebrate the Feast of the Prophet Moses (Nebi Musa), which lasts seven days. It is largely attended by the fellahin, who, in the course of it, visit the supposed tomb of Moses, which Moslem tradition places about an hour and a half south-west of Jericho. On the first day of this feast a religious service is held in the Haram al-Sherif in Jerusalem, attended by the chief functionaries; after its conclusion the procession starts for the tomb. The chief Feast of the Jews and Samaritans—the Passover—is celebrated about the same time. Many of the local saints, Moslem, Christian, and Jewish, have yearly feast-days, when their tombs are visited by the devout. A popular local feast among the Moslems is that of Nebi Saleh, celebrated at Ramleh one week after the return of the pilgrims from Nebi Musa.
§ 10. The Pro-Jerusalem Society.
The Pro-Jerusalem Society was founded in 1918 for the following objects:
(i) the protection of and the addition to the amenities of Jerusalem and its neighbourhood;
(ii) the provision and maintenance of parks, gardens, and open spaces in and around Jerusale ;
(iii) the establishment of museums, libraries, art galleries, exhibitions, musical and dramatic centres or other institutions of a similar nature for the benefit of the public;
(iv) the protection and preservation, with the consent of the Government, of antiquities in and around Jerusalem;
(v) the encouragement of arts, handicrafts and industries.
The Honorary President of the Society is the High Commissioner, and the President is the Governor of Jerusalem.The Council, which meets once a month, has as an Honorary Member Lord Milner and numbers amongst its other members the Mayor of Jerusalem, the Grand Mufti, the Orthodox, Latin and Armenian Patriarchs, the Anglican Bishop, the Chief Rabbi, the President of the Jewish lay community, representatives of the Dominican and Franciscan Convents, of the Department of Antiquities, etc.
Amongst the achievements of the Society are the freeing and completion of the Rampart Walk, whereby it is now possible, for the first time for several hundreds of years, to "Walk about Sion and go round about the towers thereof; mark well her bulwarks."
Others include the establishment, on the ancient traditional basis, of a tile and pottery factory, one of whose first tasks will be to cover with new tiles the bare spaces on the Mosque of the Dome of the Rock; the Jerusalem Looms—handlooms upon which fabrics for everyday use are woven by Palestinians for Palestinians out of Palestinian materials; the restoration of the Citadel and Tower of David, in which an Academy of Fine Arts was held in 1921 by the Society and an exhibition of Palestinian products by the Government in 1922; the design of a Jewish market on the Jaffa Road and of a khan shortly (it is hoped) to be erected in place of the present unsightly buildings near the Damascus Gate; the revival of the Hebron glass industry.
In 1921 the Council of the Society published through Mr. John Murray its first volume of Annals in a handsomely illustrated quarto volume with the title Jerusalem, 1918–1920: Being the Records of the Pro-Jerusalem Council during the British Military Administration. The Society also issues a Quarterly Bulletin, printed in Jerusalem.
The High Commissioner has been pleased to grant to the Society its Charter and to make an arrangement whereby the Government contributes a subvention at the rate of £1 for £1 for all monies collected or earned by the Society.
Donations to the Pro-Jerusalem Society, or membership subscriptions (£E. 5 per annum) entitling the subscriber to the Annals and other publications of the Society, may be addressed to any of the following:
The Governor of Jerusalem;
The Civic Adviser (Governorate, Jerusalem);
Mr. John Whiting, Hon. Treasurer of the Pro-Jerusalem Society (American Colony Store, Jerusalem);
Mr. D. G. Salameh (Messrs. Thomas Cook & Son, Jerusalem).
- ↑ Cf. also Part VII., §§ 1 and 2.