25th - 27th July, 1947 - Ron is fascinated by the locals and their religion.

Friday, 25^th July, 1947

An old woman came to the station today and said a boy had hit her.   A boy or child of this age is criminally not responsible so she was sent away unsatisfied.

She was interesting only in that her hair was red* which for such an aged one rather suggested to me she had dyed it.  I questioned a Palestinian about this & he said it was so.  A powder made from a special tree is put into the water & the hair washed.  In the morning it is again washed in clean water and is now red.  He further told me that as a sine (sic) of pending wedlock the bridegroom dyes his right hand and wrist red.

I have re[a]d somewhere that a Moslem is not allowed to show signs of age so white hair on head & face should be dyed.  This is not adhered to I think.

*Henna presumably...

Saturday, 26^th July, 1947

There was no work today so spent what I the time reading.

This evening Roughton & I went for a short walk down Wadi El Faria.  I here tasted my first pomegranate no great experience & rather laborious.

Sunday, 27^th July, 1947

I spent this morning sitting in a shaded place before the station talking to some of the Palestinians here.  I always find such a time well spent both in Arabic I learn & the ways of living of the Arabs.

Insert: Poem “Call to Prayer”

                                                        Call to Prayer

                                  Valley bare below bare mountain,

                                                        Scorched all day by Sun’s high arc,

                                  Searching, on the winds it cometh,

                                                        Calling to the faithful heart.

___________

                                  From a high tower over dome top,

                                                        Looking on the roofs below,

                                  Calling, searching, for the faithful,

                                                        “To the East bow thyselves low.”

___________

                                  In the valleys; on the mountains,

                                                        All do stop in fear and awe,

                                  Listening to the voice that tells them,

                                                        “Time is here; a prayer for all.”

___________

                                  Rich men from the shops go forward,

                                                        From the houses they come out,

                                  To the city of their Prophet

                                                        Go hearts with no trace of doubt.

___________

                                  Mosques they cannot stay to enter;

                                                        No time workers spare for that,

                                  Nor time off from their labours

                                                        So the earth their prayer-mat.

___________

                                  Thus for centuries have they heard it.

                                                        And for centuries to come;

                                  Till upon this earth they finish

                                                        When their Armageddon comes

___________

26.7.47

                                  REB