The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-10
CUSTOMS
IN THE HOLY LAND
Manners and Methods of Time Of Christ Remain Unchanged
in Country Hallowcd by the Messianc Presence.
Country Bridge Between Mosem Power in
Egypt and that in Asia Minor.

Washington. D. c., Jan. 9.--The
latest land to have been brought
within the rapidly expanded war erea
Is that thin strip upon the eastern
coast OF the Mediterranean Sea, the
Holy Land. sacred to the believers
OF three orld-religfons, to Chris
tians. Jews and Moslems, and ground
wherein were Graded ideals which
have made almost all civilization tri-
butary. 1t Is a bridge between the
Mosiem power in Asia Minor and
the Moslem power In Egypt. and so
assumes stragetic importance in the
war OF the nations. Yet the Holy
Land Is a land embalmed In the
spirit and customs of 5000 years ago.
according to a description OF village
life there as prepared by John d.
Whiting for the National Geographic
Society
Manners and customs which pre-
vailed In Palestine In Biblical days
are still unchanged. While the towns
people are losing their ancient GUS
toms and quaint costumes, the vii
layers are, IN these things, az they
were 5000 years ago. Three distinct
classes inhabit the land; the Bedouin;
a nomadic. war-loving race: the Fella-
heen. agriculturists, shepherds and
village jewellers. and the Madaniyeh,
WIZ hNG III the honuS anu cities anu
are artians.
THE present-day villages are To-
Gated, as . rule, eeither on the tops OF
hills, originally for protection. or near
some spring or source of water. Many
are built upon the foundations Of
buildings whose origin dates back
thousands OF years. There does not
exist q single example of a peasant
village that has been founded in
modern times.
Primitive Living Conditions.
Village streets are crooked, mar
row and unpaved. The farmers
houses are crowded close together
for protection. These houses consist
OF one large room, usually square.
About two-thirds of the space within
is devoted to a raised, masonry plat
form. some eight to ten feet above
the ground. and this is the kitchen,
storeroou1, bedroom and livingroom of
the family. Below this platform. the
cattle and flocks are housed, goats
and sheep. few work cattle, and
perhaps a donkey or camel.
Each village has guest cham Der
which is the social center for all
the village men. who love companion
ship and are great gossips. Each
day by turn, one OF the villagers
furnishes the coffee, beans and sugar
to be served to the men who gather
at the guest chamber. He also sup
plies the food and bedding IL some
ordinary guests come along.
They are, of course, great re-
spectors of persons: SO that II a COM
mon man happens in. couple of
fried eggs with bread and olives will
do for him. II a more important
parsonage arrives, a pair of roast
chickens Is provided for his supper;
but II a still more honored one or a
company of men appear. a lamb or
kid is killed. The village guest cham
Der Is q club of the village men.
Look Upon Women rs Inferior.
Children in the peasant families
are always welcomed. The father
prides himself on his boys Even the
mother prefers them. and when aues-
toned ass to the number OF her Off
springs. she will say she has five
children and two girls. or whatever
the numbers may be. This is the
ore strange since the would-be hus-
band must ray his father-in-law a
handsome price for the girl while
boys are q heavy expense. and their
wives and weddings are costly affairs.
Women are looked upon as some
thing inferior. The woman may never
call her husband by his first name,
but oh father Of Ahmed. or what
ever the eldest sons name may be.
The wife likewise takes the name
of her nrst-bo son. The husband
with mere say my wife, or mention
her frst name, but will say either
the mother OF Ahmed or my family,
the relative In my house. the for