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In
the rainy season, the little wadys often swell and become great rivers,
overflowing their banks, and thus prevent any one from passing to the other side
for several days. When they begin to grow a little shallow, and the travellers
are tired of waiting longer, a set of very tall and strongly built Bedouins make
their appearance, and as it is their business to transport men and baggage
across the stream, they undress themselves completely, take the traveller, who
embraces their head quite firmly, on their shoulders, and wade through, whilst
the water often stands up to their breast, and place their burden safely on the
other shore.* When in this manner all the travellers are transported, the small
packages are carried over, and then the cattle are driven through; after which
all the things are repacked, when the journey is continued.
*
These carriers may truly say with the Psalmist (66:12), “Thou hast caused a
man to ride on our head, we have come into (fire and) water, and thou hast led
us forth happily.”
With
the greater rivers, for example the Southern Jordan, where there is no bridge,
and which is not fordable even in the latter part of the summer, the ferriage is
managed by the Bedouins with their cattle and baggage in the following manner:
the smaller cattle, such as sheep and goats, are all cast into the river, and
they then swim over of their own accord; the camels, however, which are not able
to wade the Jordan because it is too deep and rapid, and as the great length of
their legs prevent them from swimming, are driven close to the edge of the
water, where they are made to kneel down, and their feet are then tied together
with strong cords, so that it is impossible for them to raise them or to stand
erect; they are then pushed into the water by the Bedouins with all their
strength, and they are thus forced to swim over. They present indeed a most
curious and ludicrous means of ferriage. With their head and hump out of the
water, bobbing up and down as they are accustomed to do in walking, unused to
the fluid element, and feeling themselves, though manacled, carried forward,
their spirit seems to be occupied with the business of crossing over; and the
whole appears to be to them a great mystery, as they indicate by constant,
impatient growling. When they have arrived safely on the opposite side, their
bonds are instantly loosened, and they jump up, as one might say, quite
joyfully, in having successfully accomplished their toilsome voyage.
Men
and baggage are ferried over in a yet more singular manner. They take eight to
ten water-skins, made of goat hides, blow them full of air, tie them together on
a square framework composed of several stout poles; on these they place some
pieces of wood and boards as a floor; they fasten next the water-skins under the
frame, and this artistical ship is thereupon launched into the water, and its
cargo placed on it. The inflated water-skins prevent this frail vessel from
foundering, and the crew then scull it over with their sticks to the other side
of the stream. As may be imagined, this conveyance is not very safe, and it
often happens that those who trust themselves to it make on it their last
voyage, as they land from it in eternity. However, it is in this wise that the
poor Bedouin knows how to help himself in various positions; and if he does not
understand how to propel his vessel by steam, he can at least prepare his
conveyance by filling the water-skins by the breath of his own mouth.
Jews
and Muslims in Palestine
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