"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎١‎٢‎٠] (٧٣٨/٢٤٥)

INHABITANTS
234
women is a city practice, unusual in the country and least of
all amongst the Bedouin.
Of the three calendars in popular use (Moslem, Jewish, and
Christian) that of the Moslems, of course, has precedence and
is familiar to all. The day of twenty-four hours begins at
nightfall. The twelve hours of daytime are reckoned from
sunrise to sunset and so vary in length throughout the year.
The observance of separate days of public worship (Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday) causes little inconvenience because
the adherents of the different religions live so much apart and
because of the nature of the observance of the days. Moslems
do not treat Friday as a day of cessation from work.
It is hazardous to attempt to sum up the character of any
people and still more to draw a balance between their virtues
and their faults. English and American observers are struck
by the general prevalence of untruthfulness and ingratitude
amongst the Syrians. They condemn also their greed and
their readiness to accept bribes. As a people they are unkind
to animals. On the other hand, they display in a marked
degree the virtues of politeness and hospitality. They are
sociable and good-natured, and calm in the face of mis
fortune. They have also a native pride which is a source of
strength. Their business capacity is evident. Courage and
fighting qualities are rather lacking, except amongst particu
lar classes (Druses, Bedouin). The long predominance of the
Moslems over Jews and Christians introduces another distinc
tion. Independence and the virtues which it fosters are
characteristic of the former, submissiveness and the faults
that accompany it generally distinguish the latter.
Any estimate of the economic capacities of the Syrian people
must allow for the bad conditions already described. Assuming
the necessary legislative reforms, it may be said, in summary,
that the people as well as the country show promise of great
future development. Europeans are struck by the contrast
between life in Syria and that of a modern industrial state.
Much time is wasted, as judged by the needs of production.
All classes appreciate the sweetness of doing nothing, and