'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919' [‎115v] (235/738)

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INHABITANTS
‘ visiting place To the more important of them feast-days
are assigned which recur annually. In some cases the well is an
ancient Prophet, e.g. Moses {Musa) or Aaron {Haruri)\ some
times he is the supposed founder of a tribe ; sometimes a hero
of the early period of Islam, e.g. the Prophet’s cousin Ja‘far,
who perished at the battle of Mu’tah, but was afterwards seen
by the Prophet with wings ; his sanctuary is three hours south
of Kerak. Sometimes he is the hero of some quite recent
combat, whether between the tribes or a tribe and the
government. Sometimes he appears to be wholly mythical,
and may perpetuate some cult belonging to pagan days.
Though the weli is ordinarily male, there are a fair number of
female saints {wellyeh), who enjoy reverence. Recourse is had
to these personages rather than to Allah, when some object is
desired ; and their vengeance is very generally feared, in the
case of their being treated with any disrespect.
The reverence that is paid to the welis and the fear of
their vengeance that is widely felt enables the Bedouin to
use their services as protectors of their goods. Agricultural
implements and in certain cases objects of greater value are
confided to their care by being placed near their mazdrs,
and the fear of disaster overtaking the robber usually renders
these objects secure. Further, owing to the belief that they
will inflict speedy and terrible vengeance on any one who
swears falsely in their names, many a case is decided by
compelling one of the parties to swear by the local weli.
It would seem that ordinarily their sphere of action is strictly
limited, unless in the case of the most famous welis, e. g.
Abraham (the Khalil of Hebron), Noah (of Kerak), Ja‘far.
The Bedouin have a whole system of lucky and unlucky
days, which appears to have no connexion with specifically
Islamic beliefs. All days in the month which exhibit the
number 9 (9, 19, 29) are unlucky ; neither a journey nor
a foray should be started on such a day. The same holds
good of such days as are multiples of 7 (14, 21, 28). Friday
is also unlucky. Sunday, Monday and Thursday are lucky
for expeditions. So too is the first Wednesday in the month,