THE LAND OF OLIVES
The shortest road from Ekron to the Judean Mountains and thence to Jerusalem is through the Vadyes Surar or vale of Sorek. This valley begins four miles south-east of Ekron and terminates into a great basin at a distance of sixteen miles with the low hills of Judea. The little Bulgarian Jewish Colony, Artuff, is in the centre of the Basin, Sura (Zorah), the birth place of Samson, and Eshua (Eshtaol) are on a slope to the North, and Ein Shemesh (Beth Shemesh) is in the South. The entire territory is vivid with historical reminiscences. There "The child Samson grew up and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to move him in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol." (Jud. 13:24).
The entire valley, as seen from the villages of the Judean hill, is as fertile to-day as in the days of yore. All over are fields of corn and olive groves, the broad brook of Rubin and its tributary pebbly streams screened by walls of Oleanders is seen, and beyond is the Philistine Plain with its miles of corn and pasture lands studded with milliards of wild flowers. Along this picturesque valley of Sorek we were pursuing our course to Hulda where the Jewish National Fund has planted a large olive grove in memory of the late Theodore Herzl. After the road emerges from the cornfields of Ekron, it becomes very uneven, full of steep hills and deep ravines. Going down these deep holes in a carriage, one has the sensation of sliding down the "Shoot the Shoots" of our American pleasure parks. I confess that these up and down shakes give little enjoyment, even to the most loyal Zionist. We were glad to reach the last slope where the village of Hulda
was situated. It was late in the afternoon. The rich glow of the golden sun as it was setting on the Judean Mountains, was an inspiring sight, even the blue mountains of the east and north of the Shephelah appeared to have enjoyed the reflection of the setting sun.
Eee = Vie Ibrahim, like “Eliezer,” stopped at the village well to give drink to his animals, and “It was the time the women go to the well to draw water.” (Gen. XXIV:11l) Two Re- beccas came down the village hill carrying large jars on their heads, and when they filled these vessels with water, others came, and still others. I watched with great interest the procession of these quiet and erect figures clothed in their faded draperies of all colors, with the large jars on their heads walking towards the sunset. Their erect carriage and graceful gait rendered them attractive, at least from a distance.
The native women of Hulda, by what we saw, deserved our respectful admiration, for they did stop to gossip at the well as is customary. Neither did they stare at us, nor did they send their young ones to us for “Bakhshish.” They simply passed us, smiling a friendly welcome.
The woman here made no attempt to veil their faces as is customary in the Palestinian towns. The faces of some were disfigured with tatooed signs of circles, stars, and lines in dark blue color.
Their gowns were straight and long, of white or blue color, and had a red band passing diagonally from the shoulder around the waist to the skirt. The red girdles and white shawls covering their heads, completed their costumes. While these damsels were parading to and from the well, a number of male inhabit-