Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/164

130 cases the child takes the breast without the mother awaking from sleep. Such lazy mothers are disliked by their husbands, who believe that illness and even the death of the child may be the consequence of this. They call it "dead milk," regarding a sleeping person as, in fact, the same as a dead person.

Question 5. ''When is a child named? Is there any ceremony when it is named.''

Answer. In the mountains of Judah the people are very indifferent to any ceremony except the two feast-days. But in the plains of Philistia they have rules about this. Thus the Fellahin name the child, as already mentioned, before the navel is cut, before the visitors come, and the midwife then only may tie up the navel; whilst the Egyptian settlers in Jaffa and round about give the name on the seventh day. The child is washed, and salted, then a copper basin is put above its head, which the midwife knocks with a stick, to teach the child to be fearless. If it gets frightened it will always be a coward; if, on the contrary, it is not afraid, the midwife asks the father, "What name do you call it?" The father replies, "N. or M."; then the midwife, giving a knock on the copper basin, says, "Listen! your name is Fatmé or Ehmad," or whatever it may be.

Question 6. Is the eldest son always the heir?

Answer. Sons all inherit the same share, and girls ought to receive half a share. The eldest son is only privileged as being the eldest, and if he be energetic enough he may have the lead over his brothers, but in sharing they are equal. They generally keep their lands and animals together, till the first quarrel ensues, generally on marriage, as everywhere the women do nut agree.

Question 7. How many children does one mother usually bear?

Answer. As far as I could find out from personal acquaintances, I should say 7 to 10 or 12. If you question a fellah about this, he will either laugh at your question, or "Beg pardon,", Is taghfar Allah, for meddling with God's blessing. Counting anything is sinful. In Artas, amongst some 25 families, there was one man only who had nine children living. He was married four times. His first wife brought him four children, of whom one died with the mother, too, at childbirth. His second wife bore eight children, and died with the eighth. He married a third wife, about 25 years old, when he was about 60, and had four children by her. Subsequently he married a fourth time under peculiar circumstances. When about 65 years old he chose a girl of seven for one of his sons, and made the betrothal for his son, and when the Khateeb was going to tie the nuptial knot, the father came and was himself married to the girl. Other Artas people have from three to six children living, but generally half of the children die in their first year,