THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GEOGRAPHY 0¥ PALESTINE. 177 



advances on the old rules, and by it chivalry was first introduced 

 to the world, but the old rules of natural religion continued in 

 force. 



As these rules govern all life amongst primitive people, I will 

 give some instances of their application in modern times. 



The Good Offices of the Star Smaiyeh. 



The star Smaiyeh is connected amongst the Bedouin with a 

 legend about Moses, and they consider it unwise to undertake a 

 journey when it is approaching the moon. In September, 1882, 

 Smaiyeh was approaching the moon, and they were much 

 concerned about it in connexion with the war. It is the star 

 depicted on the Turkish ensign, within the Crescent, and the 

 Moslems expected great help from it. 



This star played a very important part with us towards the 

 close of our proceedings in the desert, as I will relate. 



After the murderers of Professor Palmer and his comrades 

 had been brought to justice, I went into the desert to erect ii 

 great stone cairn and wooden cross on a conspicuous hill over- 

 looking the spot where the murder was committed. Miss 

 Charrington and her brother vyere present, and we established 

 the memorial with much ceremony, and consecrated the ground 

 according to Christian rites ; but we all agreed that it ought 

 also to be consecrated effectually according to local Bedouin 

 customs, and I consulted the Bedouin and Egyptians present as 

 to what we could do in the matter. It so happened that at 

 that time a cheery old Bedouin fell very ill, and was left near 

 our camp by his comrades to take his chance. This man we 

 brought into a tent and tended, and, on his turning the corner, 

 he expressed great gratitude to us all, especially to Miss 

 Charrington, who had been very kind to him. In conversation 

 with him, I stated my anxiety to get the cairn and cross made taboo 

 to the Bedouin, and the matter evidently very much dwelt on 

 his mind, as during the night he had a vivid dream concerning it. 



He related to the Bedouin and to us that he had seen the 

 star Smaiyeh come down from heaven and gather up all the 

 souls of the murdered ones into his bosom and carry them up 

 to the cairn and deposit them there, and subsequently carry 

 them back to the wady. This made the spot taboo to the 

 Bedouin, and the dream was given out through the desert and 

 the place was not molested. 



The taboo of the desert is, as far as I have observed, entirely 

 in favour of law and order. 



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