Rochester Journal and the Post Express · Rochester, New York · 31 October 1908

CP-1908-003

Palestine Fellaheen

Food and habits of the Holy Land peasantry

Consul Thomas R. Wallace, Jerusalem, in Consular Reports

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Transcribed from the clipping

“Consul Thomas R.

Wallace, of Jerusalem, furnishes the following information concerning the diet and general conditions of the agriculturalists (fellaheen) of Palestine: The principal diet of the average natives who live upon the land—the fellaheen—is bread, made mostly of barley, often eaten without anything else, and often with olives or olive oil, cheese, coagulated milk (leben), or dried figs.

In time of fruit they eat freely of it, the chief fruits around Jerusalem being grapes and figs—the former lasting for some months—and watermelons, which are grown largely on the plains. Many apricots are also eaten, but the season is short. The vegetables chiefly used are tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and garlic, eaten raw or in the form of salads.

They grow other vegetables, but ordinarily do not consume them but sell them. Flesh food is eaten only on the occasion of weddings and festivals, and is generally in the form of mutton or goat meat… It is well-known that the fellaheen possesses great endurance.

This applies not only to the men, but to the women, the latter carrying heavy loads on their heads, often with babies on their backs, for long distances.—Consular Reports.”

Context added by this archive

An American government document. A United States consul in Jerusalem itemized what the Palestinian peasantry grew, ate and took to market, and the State Department published it. They sell what they do not eat, which means there is a market, which means there are towns to sell in. The item above it on the page is credited to the London “Mail.”

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