WHERE TURKS RULE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2455, 7 May 1915, Page 9

WHERE TURKS RULE

IN OLD JERUSALEM

/ SIDELIGHTS BY A FORMER RESIDENT BAREFOOTED SOLDIERS A recently-published clipping from a Cairo newspaper reported that some 4000 Turkish troops had returned wounded to Jerusalem from the Canal Zone after the recent action in which New Zoaland and Australian troops took part. The fact, that the Holy City of Palestine is being used as a base by tile Turkish troops lends a curious interest to the city wherein our Saviour walked, and the sidelights cast upon the ancient city, its peoplo, and its customs by one who resided there for many years cannot fail to catch the attention of the reading public. The ono-timo citizen of Jerusalem referred to is the Rev. A. H. Pitkotfski, Assistant-Rabbi in Wellington He is actually a Russian by birth, but was taken to Jerusalem when a "kfd, and was educated there for the holy office he now holds in the Jewish community of this city. Mr. Pitkowski says that twelve years have elapsed since he was in Jerusalem, but, as under Turkish rule, progress is slow, the assumption is that no groat ohanges have been made in the interim. The c:ty, he says, is managed by a council, called the Bel-e-dia, which is elected by property-holders—on the principle that the more property one held the more votes he had, whilst those with very little property or none at all—a big proportion of the community—had 110 voice at all in the return of the council. The policy of the council was difficult to define, as practically little was done to effect permanent improvements in the alace. No Water System. There was, for example, no water system as wo understand it, and yet for between, five and six months of the year no rain fell in Jerusalem. In spite of such climatic conditions there was no svstem of water conservation other than the primitive method of sinking a pit here and there, concrete or stone-

lined, into which the water in the rainy season drained. There was about one pit or well to every fifteen or twenty families, and when water was required for household purposes it had to be drawn up with a bucket or kerosene tin. There were some very fine pits, notably one near the Holy Temple (Mach-a-Reem), but the majority of them were small. In consequence of the inadequacy of the water supply there were frequent shortages experienced in the heat of summer—in July and August—whon many of the pits became exhausted, and water became a commercial commodity, pun-eyed at from 4d. to 6d. per two kerosene tins full. There was a' pool some ten <.r twelve miles out from which the water was conducted by pipes to Jerusalem, but in Mr. Pitkowski's time it was only brought to two points, one near the Te.mple and the other ui a suburb of the city. In times of need the fellaheen purveyed water from door to door in skin bags in the manner of their. forefathers, and then a close guard was kept upon the pits, and tickets were issued to ensure that no one person should get more than twelve kerosene-tins full a week.

The city was also minus a drainage system, save in. certain restricted and exclusive parts, hence the prevalence of malarial fever and the common affliction of sore eyes. Twelve years aj.o there was no such thing as electricity ot gas. Oil lamps and oandles were used for lighting purposes, and charcoal for heating, but in regard to the latter provision there wore few houses with heating-stoves among the poorar olasses—who were extremely poor. Jerusalem, in common with the rest of Palestine, was under the rule of Turkey, and was always garrisoned with a few troops, These were wretchedly equipped as a rule. As often as not they 'were barefooted, and even if thay had boots they were "things of shreds and patches." Jerusalem had a population of between 90,000 and 100,000, about 60.000 of wliinh were Jews. In principle the Turkish laws were good, but official circles simply reeked with corruption, and the Jewish community found it impossible to institute any reforms they might like to see brought about.

A World-wide Charity,

Labour was ridiculously cheap. Good tradesmen could be obtained for as low a wage as 12s. per week. Yet in spite of this living wan not cheap. Fish and meat were even dearer than they were w Wellington, and tbey were few of the working classes who could manage to eat meat more than once a week. How the Jews could manage to livo under such conditions, Mr. Pitkowski explained, was owing to the liberality of Jews in other parte of the world. Mr. Pitkowski imagines that owing to the war the Jews of Jerusalem must be in a very bad way at present, and he fears that the .Jewish colonies, estaoJi«lied on country Una* rluring t<ho •*st thirty years, through the liberality of Baron Edmond de Rotheohild, and later by Baron Birsch and others, will have suffered at the hands of the terrible Turks. It would be nearly impossible to send money to those poor people now with Turkey at war against Russia, France, and Englandj but America was still a contributor, and he had read recently in the "Jewish Chronicle" that Mr. .Morgan, American Ambassador at Constantinople, and a Jew had recently arrived m Jaffa with 50,000 dollars for tho Jewish community of Jerusalem. In some respects these people had been happily circumstanced, for not only did they have their own schools in Jerusalem, but throe hospitals, an orphanage, an old man's home, and an asylum. On account of the prevailing corruption crime was well in evidence, and criminals were rarely brought to justice. I'or a serious offence the criminal could bribe the arresting constable with a coin as low in instrinsic value as a shilling, so that it was almost hopeless to look for anything like justice in the Turkish court. Tho Jews had their own House of Judges, where all their civil disputes were amicably settled. Good Fighters, The Turks were essentially a warlike race—they were fond of fighting and had no fear. With thoir cry, "Allah Akbar!" they would rush into tho thickest fray, believing that if death camo they would be immediately transported to Paradise. So that under no circumstances were they a foe to bo despised. They were fanatically religious, ignorant, and treacherous. What tho sheikh or head man said was law, and in their religious frenzy at festivals they would float around oblivious to everyono and everything—quite out of their minds. They have been known to prostrate themselves on tho earth and allow thoir sheikh to walk wer them as they called on the name of the I'rophot. Then returning to thoir ordinary avocations they will lie and cheat, and indulge in all manner of corrupt practices. Yet the Turk liked Jows bettor than Christions, who were generally referred to as tho most contemptible animal known to tho peoples of the East.