Byeways in Palestine | Page 8

lips dyed blue, all walking with dignity of step,
most of them employed in hanging up washed fleeces of wool to dry.
One in particular I remarked for her stately appearance, with the blue
dress trailing long behind, and the sleeves covering her hands; she was
giving commands to others.
As soon as we were well settled, and the first confusion over in making

our several arrangements with servants, etc., Shaikh Deab sent a
messenger asking permission for him to pay us a visit of welcome; and
a serious ceremonial visit took place accordingly. The great man was
arrayed in green silk, and carried a silver-handled sword and dagger; a
few chosen men of the tribe formed his train; coffee, pipes, and long
compliments followed. We all remarked his keen eyes, ardent like
those of a hawk in pursuit of prey. On taking leave he announced his
intention of presenting each gentleman with a sheep for our evening
meal.
As soon as the indispensable solemnity of his visit was over, the camp
became more animated; the sheep were slaughtered; various parties
being formed for the feast, which was finished by the Arabs; and I
invited all to my tent for tea at night, when the weather became so
piercing cold that I found it necessary to have some hot brandy and
water to drink.
In this place I wish to say how excellent is animal food dressed
immediately after killing. The practice is found, all through the Bible
histories, from Abraham entertaining the angels at Mamre, to the father
of the prodigal son killing the fatted calf for his reception. At that stage
the meat is exceedingly tender and delicate; whereas, if left, as the
European practice is, for some time after killing, it has to go through
another and less wholesome process in order to become tender again.
There are numerous medical opinions in favour of the Oriental method
of cooking the food immediately.
Another observation will not be out of place, on the almost universal
eating of mutton throughout Asia. I do not mean the anti-beef-eating
Brahmins of India, but in all countries of Asia, by eating of meat is
understood the eating of mutton, and horned cattle are reserved for
agricultural labour. In case of exceptions being met with, they are only
such few exceptions as help to prove the rule. This may perhaps be
attributed to the general insecurity of animal property in the East; but
that I do not think a sufficient reason to account for it. It seems,
however, that the ancient Israelites were not so much limited to eating
from the small cattle.

Saturday, 12th.--Thermometer 37 degrees just before sunrise, nearly
thirty degrees lower than under the same circumstances two days
before. The night had been cold and damp; the grass was found wet in
the places sheltered from the current of wind, which had elsewhere
formed hoarfrost over the field. This reminded us of the elevation we
had reached to; and we all exclaimed as to the reasonableness of
Jacob's expostulation with Laban, when he asserted that "in the day the
drought [or heat] consumed him, and the frost by night," (Gen. xxxi.
40.) We were upon frozen ground in the month of May, after passing
through a flight of locusts on the preceding day.
A lively scene was the packing up. 'Abdu'l 'Azeez was happy at seeing
us all happy, and laying hold of a couple of dirty, ragged urchins, he
shook them well, and lifted them up from the ground, and offered them
to me, saying, "Here, take these little imps of mine, and do what you
like with them; send them to England if you will, for they are growing
up like beasts here, and what can I do?" All I could do was to speak
cheerfully to them, and make them some little presents. At the door of
Deab's tent was his bay mare of high race, and his spear planted beside
her. He accompanied us as far as his own encampment, two or three
hours over wide plains and grassy pastures. Soon after leaving Na'oor
he took us up a small hill, which was called Setcher, (probably Setker
in town pronunciation,) where there were some ruins of no considerable
amount, but the stones of cyclopean size. Query--Were these remains
of the primeval Zamzummim? (Deut. ii. 20.)
At Dahair el Hhumar (Asses' Hill) we alighted in Deab's own camp,
not large in extent or number of people, probably only a small
detachment from the main body brought with him for the occasion, but
not such, or so placed, as to interfere with the camp of 'Abdul 'Azeez.
However, the well-known emblems of the Shaikh's presence were
observed--namely, his tent being placed at the west end of the line, and
his