United States Army

“ You might think you were just sparring and knock a man down or even injure him. They would be certain to misunderstand it and word would spread rapidly, as it does among people who don't read and who rely on gossip for information, that Americans hit people on the jaw. Besides, it is dangerous. Syrians, like most people of this desert world, know how to use knives. Never get angry at these people. It is one thing to issue orders and get them carried out; it is another to rub the people the wrong way. ”

“ In a strategic way, the desert is perhaps the most important part of Syria to the United Nations, because across it run the great pipelines from the oil fields of Iraq to the Mediterranean, and also because of its position as the gateway to Persia and India beyond. ”

“ Both the Moslem and Christian groups are broken up into subdivisions or sects. One of the more important Moslem sects are the Druze. The Druze live in a semi-desert section in the south part of Syria called Jebel Druze. They keep very much to themselves, are a proud and reserved people, and are noted for their daring and bravery in warfare.
The Moslems follow the religion founded by Mohammed. Do not call it the Mohammedan religion, for they do not worship Mohammed as Christians worship Christ. Mohammed is not God. Allah is God, and Mohammed only His prophet. ”

“ In fact, at the end of the last war, Syria sought to be placed under American mandate protection. And, too, many Syrians have been educated at the American University at Beirut. So, you are in a friendly country and you won't have much trouble making friends, if you use ordinary horse sense in your dealings with the people of this land. But, with the best intentions in the world, you're likely to make serious mistakes, if you don't learn a little something about Syrians and their ways of doing things. ”

“ You can usually tell a Christian village from a Moslem village by the simple method of observing whether the village possesses a church or a mosque. A mosque always has a minaret or tower from which prayers are called.
If you find both a mosque and a church in a village, you will know that the community is composed of both Christians and Moslems. In all probability, each group has its own section of the village. If you find yourself in one of these communities, be careful not to favor one group more that the other. If you buy goods, for instance, be sure to patronize both groups. ”

“ Questions regarding religion are as distasteful to Syrian Moslems as are questions regarding women. It is well to avoid any kind of religious discussion or argument.
Two-thirds of the Syrians are Moslems, and the remaining third are Christian. The Moslem community is more or less set off by itself and recognized by its veiled women, the sombre, dignified aspect of the men and by their mosques. The distribution of Moslems and Christians is roughly according to the boundaries of Syria and Lebanon. Lebanon is mostly Christian, while Syria is mostly Moslem. ”

“ You'll see a lot of the cities and their people, but it's the desert and the desert folk that give flavor to the land.
THE desert Arab, or tribesman, has few necessities beyond coffee, sugar, and tobacco. Even on feast days he eats astonishingly little, and when no guest is present, bread and a bowl of camel's milk is about all he requires—and he can make long marches on that simple fare. It is said that the Bedouin (bed-win) is never without hunger. But when a notable guest is in camp, a sheep must be killed and a bountiful meal of mutton, curds, and flaps of bread is the order of the day. ”

“ On small, 10-foot platforms, in front of each dukkan sit the merchants, cross-legged. Coffee sellers pass up and down, offering their wares. Merchants furnish their customers with cigarettes and coffee free, and gossip is always going—on crops or politics or what not.
The great meeting place for the Moslems in Damascus is the famous Mosque—once a heathen temple, then a Christian church, and later held jointly by Moslem and Christian. ”

“ Never make advances to Syrian women or try to get their attention on the streets or other public places. The desert or village women may seem to have more freedom, but they do not. Any advances on your part are sure to mean trouble, and plenty of it. Syrians will immediately dislike you if you do not treat their women according to their standards and customs. ”

“ In general, Syria is a healthful country. It even hopes some day to become known as the health resort of the Mediterranean. Still, sanitary conditions in many parts of the country are not like those we are accustomed to, and certain precautions must not be neglected. A little knowledge may help to avoid serious illness. ”

“ Desert Farmers. Less romantic perhaps than the Bedouin or the warlike Jebel Druze (je-bel drooz) are the farmers, but they form the bulk of the 31⁄2 millions of people of Syria-Lebanon. They do a remarkably efficient job in getting what they do out of it. The average farmer just manages to sustain his family, and has little left over. Rural incomes in Syria average about $80 a year, debts are always large and mortgages heavy. ”

“ The Syrians make a good deal of courtesy and politeness. If a man should kiss your hand or raise his fingers to his lips after shaking hands with you, don't laugh. It is his way of paying you a compliment. ”

“ The winters are colder and the summers warmer. This valley, however, is fertile and well cultivated. Wheat and other cereals are its principal crops.
Unlike the forested Lebanons, the Anti-Lebanon range is bleak and barren, without much rainfall. It is a fitting approach to the desert, which stretches eastward from its foothills. Though this desert occupies by far the greater portion of Syria, it is only sparsely inhabited in comparison with the rest of the country, because of its unfriendly and unfertile character. ”

“ You will find it difficult sometimes to distinguish manners from religious practices. Many Syrian customs are religious in their origin. Moslems live their religion far more intensely than most of us do. Begin by watching them carefully.
Social customs enter into not only your personal relations with Syrians you have met, but all public activities, such as buying in the bazaars, eating and drinking in public places, and the relations to women. Learn the forms of address on meeting people and use them. ”

“ Americans slap each other on the back and jostle each other in fun. Syrians do not. Avoid handling them and do not try to wrestle with them. Even if you think you know them well, do not touch their bodies in any way. ”

“ They are the people who can supply water if they like you or poison the wells if they don't. They can guide us through mountains and desert, or lead us astray. They can tell us what the Germans are doing when they like us, or tell the Germans what we are doing if they don't like us. ”

“ Malaria is quite prevalent in Syria. It is carried by a particular kind of mosquito which breeds in marshy areas, uncovered wells and cisterns, and in shallow water pools along the seacoast. If at all possible, stay away from areas where malaria is common. ”

“ Each and every tree has its owner and wood-lots are sometimes the property of the village. Sometimes the groves are considered holy and no person may touch the wood. It is even considered improper to sit under the shade of a tree. The Syrians themselves mostly use dried animal dung for fuel. Learn to use this.
How To Get Along in the Desert. If you are in the desert, remember that every bit of land is the property of some specific group of tribesmen. ”

“ Latakia is famous in America because it gives to us some of the finest tobacco in the world, used to flavor American brands.
The Oldest City in the World. Back of the Lebanon Mountains, to the east, is a wide valley, and back of that the Anti-Lebanon range, marking the end of the fertile coastal section and the beginning of the desert. But here, like a "green island" in the desert, is Damascus, reputed to be the oldest city in the world, dating back to more than 2,000 years before Christ. ”

“ You won't have to learn many words since in everyday Arabic a few simple words and phrases go a long way. The majority of Syrians themselves use perhaps only a few hundred words—and they get along pretty well on that. ”

“ Eat only with your right hand—it is considered very rude to use the left, even if you are a southpaw. Do not cut native bread with a knife. Break it with your fingers. A servant will come along with basins and water for all to wash their hands after dinner. ”

“ Syrians, like most orientals, pay much attention to good manners. Moslems do not let other people see them naked. Do not urinate in their presence. They do this squatting and dislike to see others do it standing up. ”

“ Women. You will not find Moslem women in the company. Ladies generally remain hidden. It depends largely on who your host is, of course. But among Moslems, particularly, women do not mingle freely with men. The greater part of their time they spend at home and in the company of their own families. It is considered a very serious breach of manners to even inquire about the women. So even if you are invited to a home, you will not see much of the women.
In public, many Moslem women go veiled. If a woman has occasion to lift her veil while shopping, do not stare at her. ”

“ Sandflies, which are smaller than mosquitoes and which can get through an ordinary mosquito net carry a slight three-day fever which is not serious but is weakening. It is known as sandfly fever. Sandflies are most prevalent in midsummer. Coating yourself with a light oil will give you some protection from them. ”

“ But remember that it is the watchman's business to be suspicious of strangers. Therefore you must win his trust before he is willing to help you. A suspicious watchman will often give you false information purposely. ”

“ Respect village property. Keep to paths and roadways. Do not enter cultivated fields or take fruits and vegetables from orchards and gardens. Villagers depend on these crops for their living. Their margin of reserve is very slim. Do not gather fuel without permission. ”

“ Give them some small change occasionally.
When you see grown men walking hand in hand, ignore it. They are not "queer."
Be kind and considerate to servants. The Syrians are a very democratic people. ”

“ So vital is this to Moslems that the railroad from Damascus to Mecca, in Arabia, started in 1901 and completed in 1909, was built entirely from subscriptions by the faithful from all over Islam to make easier the pilgrimage to the holy city. No "unbeliever" is ever permitted to enter Mecca.
How to Get Along in the Villages. On entering a village or farming district, there are definite rules of procedure in regard to introductions. No matter how small the detachment, the leader should find out whether or not the area is controlled by a landlord, called a "malik il-ard" (maa-lik il-ard) . ”

“ DRAA'S. kee-to-Ml-tir — t kilometer ( % at a mile or 3280.S feet) . MEEL — mile. MEE-lir— meter (39.37 inches) . Distances (t is often futile to try to find out exact distances from the Bedouins, because they have little idea of accurate expression. They will often reply that a place is "two cigarettes away," or about 20 minutes (the time it takes to smoke one cigarette, about to minutes) . Or they may reply that a place is so many hours away, by which they mean hours traveling by horse, donkey, or camel. More sophisticated Arabs express distance in meters or kilometers, or perhaps mdes. ”

“ Straight ahead — DUGH-ri Please point — min FUHD-lak. far-ZHEE-ni Distances are given in kilometers, not miles. One kilometer equals % of a mile. Kilometers — ^ee-h-imt-RAAT Numbers One — WAA-hid Vaw—AR-ia-'a Two— it-NAYN Five— KHAM-si Three— TLAA-li But when you use the numbers with other words notice what happens: One kilometer — foe-lo-MI-tir Four kilometers — AR-ba' k.ee-lo- mit-RAAT Five kilometers — KHAMS k*e- WAA-hid For two kilometers you say "couple of kilometers" all in one word. ”