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"The outside of the roof is covered with a coating of mortar made of clay, which, on being pressed with a small stone roller or pounded with a board, becomes hard and compact enough to shed the rain" (see page 251).

VILLAGE LIFE IN THE HOLY LAND

lem, are still perpetuating the life of Abraham and the customs and ways of the people who lived here at the time of Christ.

To know the heart of the land, to have learned the hospitality of its people, which is always offered, no matter how primitive or simple, makes it easy to picture Mary and Joseph returning from the inn, already filled with guests, and turning aside into a home such as we have described, the regular dwelling portion of which may have been none too large for the family which occupied it. It may have been crowded with other guests, but they find a welcome and a resting place for the babe in a manger.

Such a use of the rowych, or stable portion of the house, by human beings is not the exception, but an every-day occurrence. You can occasionally find men working their primitive looms there or the mother preparing the food or doing her little sewing near the door, where there is more light on a dark winter's day. We have all perhaps noticed that in the two Gospel narratives where the birth of Jesus is dwelt upon* neither of them mentions a stable, barn, or anything equivalent, while Matthew, speaking of the wise men, says: "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother."

Many of these dwellings, placed as they are on ancient sites, are built over old caves or caverns which are incorporated into the lower or stable portion. Today, in Bethlehem's church, such a cave 1S shown as the actual birthplace of Jesus. Its walls are covered with costly tapestries and paintings, and from its ceiling hang lamps of gold and silver (see page 304).

THE GUEST-CHAMBER OF THE VILLAGE

Each village has an upper room or guest-chamber (see page 254). During the summer the shade of some large tree is often substituted for this room. However, in either case this guest-chamber or tree is the social center for all the village men, where many spend the evening or the entire day when they have nothing with which to occupy themselves. Socia

* Matt. 2:1-12; Luke 2: 1-20.

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bility is one of their characteristics; they love to gossip and chat about the local news. Of course, not a single newspaper is to be had; so all their information is derived from those who have been last to town.

A servant is hired to attend to this guest-chamber, and every day, by turn, one of the villagers furnishes the coffee beans and sugar for the coffee to be served to the men thus congregated; he, too, supplies the food and bedding if some ordinary guests come along.

They are, of course, great respecters of persons; so that if a common man happens in, a couple of fried eggs with bread and olives will do for him. If a more important personage arrives, a pair of roast chickens is provided for his supper; but if a still more honored one, a sheik of a village, or a large company of men appear, a lamb or kid is killed, and in all cases horses are furnished with nose-bags full of barley. The supplying of these more expensive meals is apportioned among the various men by turn, while they furnish barley according to the amount of land possessed.

In the possession of the man attending the guest-chamber are three small wooden bows, on the cord of which are strung slips of paper, cach bearing the name of one of the men of the village. The slip first in order indicates the name of the person whose turn next comes to serve, and in this simple way the proper accounts are kept, since one of the bows represents chickens, the next lambs and kids, while the third is for the barley. As each one fulfills his obligation the paper representing it is torn off, and when all are gone, a new set is written and the turns begin again.

Let us now watch a company of distinguished visitors arrive at the village guest-chamber.

The young men run to help the guests dismount, and, leading the animals away, tie them in the courtyard or in the stable, which is below the "upper room." Others hasten to spread rugs and mats on the floor and mattresses around the wall, furnished with cushions, for on them the guests sit cross-legged or recline. Many of the men of the village now join the

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"Each village has an upper room, or guest-chamber. During the summer the villagers often substitute the shade of some large tree for this room. This guest-chamber or tree is the gathering place for all the village men, where many spend the evening or the entire day when they have nothing with which to occupy themselves, for sociability is one of their characteristics" (see page 253).

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