1054 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



THE COFFEE-MAKER 



The Arabians drink only the finest coffee, served in tiny cups. In most guest rooms 

 and tents there is a coffee-maker who prides himself on the excellence of the beverage he 

 can produce. 



as 3,000, others much more. When I was 

 there the chief told me he took tax from 

 40,000 men. 



Jowf is noted for the variety, quality, 

 and abundance of its dates, the cultiva- 

 tion and care of the palm giving employ- 

 ment to thousands of the natives. Thou- 

 sands of camel loads of dates are sent 

 annually to Damascus to be exchanged 

 for goods suitable for barter among the 

 Bedouins and Arabs. 



I was interested in learning the many 

 uses that the different parts of the date- 

 palm were put to, including even the 

 stones. As already stated, the trunk is 

 split in two and made into doors, the 

 fiber is woven into ropes and nets, the 

 green fronds are split asunder and plaited 

 into mats and baskets into which the 

 dates are packed for export, and the 

 stones, which are gathered off the floors 

 of the people's houses, are soaked in 



water and when sufficiently soft mixed 

 with meal and given as feed to the 

 camels, on which they thrive very well 

 indeed. 



The dates ripen early in December, and 

 the harvest continues until the end of 

 January. The huge bunches are hacked 

 off with a primitive saw or hatchet and 

 then lowered by means of a rope to men 

 waiting beneath, some of the bunches 

 being as much as an ordinary man can 

 well carry. 



Another production of the Jowf much 

 sought after is the abba or large outer 

 cloak of the Arab. Thes2 are made 

 entirely of camel's hair, spun and woven 

 both by men and women on the most 

 primitive looms imaginable, and the mar- 

 vel is that they are able to turn out such 

 well-made goods. In the markets of 

 Jerusalem and Damascus the abba of the 

 Jowf sells at a high price. 



