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Although Palestine gets a great deal of rain, much of the water percolates through the large expanses of limestone rock and is thus wasted. Springs where the water rushes out from its subterranean channels are important, and wells were eagerly sought after in early times. They were often the cause of disputes among a shep herd group (Gen. xxvi., 17-25, and xxi.–xxv.). The countryside is fitted with ancient cisterns that tell of former works of irrigation. Besides the remains of ancient cisterns are the ruined aqueducts at Jericho, Caesarea and other places, as well as the large reservoirs known as Solomon's pools, in a valley between Jerusalem and Hebron, by which the former was supplied at one time with water. Hot springs are found at El-Hamma, about 1 m. south of Tiberias, at Zerka Mah'in (Calirrhoe), El-Hamma below Gadara, and also hot sulphur springs on the west side of the Dead sea. Irrigation and terrace cultivation are the keynote to the prosperity of Pales tine.
The flora of Palestine has a considerable range and variety owing to the variation in local climatic condi tions. In the Jordan valley the vegetation has a semi-tropical character. The coast-plain has the ordinary vegetation of the Med iterranean littoral. In the mountains the flora is, naturally, scantier than in these two more favoured regions, but even here there is a rich variety. In all parts of the country the contrast between the landscape in early spring and later, after the cessation of rains when increase of heat has burnt up the vegetation, is very remark able.
It has been calculated that about 600 different species of verte brate animals are recorded or still to be found in Palestine. The most important domestic animals are the sheep and the goat ; the breed of oxen is small and poor. The camel, the horse and the donkey are the draught animals.
It is important to remember that the horse was a comparatively late introduction and is not mentioned until nearly the end in Genesis. In the dry regions it was somewhat of a luxury. Wild cats, cheetahs and leopards are found, but they are rare, especially the latter. The lion is extinct. The most important wild animals are the hyena, wolf (now comparatively rare), fox and jackal. Bats and rodents abound ; the coney is heard of still near the Dead Sea, where the ibex also is found. Among the most character istic birds may be mentioned eagles, vultures, owls, partridges, bee-eaters and hoopoes; singing birds are on the whole uncommon. Snakes—many of them venomous—are numerous, and there are many varieties of lizards. The crocodile is seen very rarely in the
Nahr ez-Zerka. Scorpions and large spiders are universal.
Sir G. A. Smith, Historical Geography of the Holy Land (19Io) ; Sir W. M. Ramsay, The Education of Christ (1902) ; Ellsworth Huntington, Palestine and its Transformation (19o7) ; Sir G. A. Smith, Atlas of the Historical Geography of the Holy Land (1915) ; B. Worsfold, Palestine and the Mandate (1925) ; L. Preis and P. Rohrbach, Palestine and East-Jordan (Eng. trans., 1926) ; L. Golding, Those Ancient Lands (1927).
In Palestine, as in 'Iraq (q.v.), responsibility for defence rests upon Great Britain as a legacy from the World War. After its conclusion British troops were kept in the country which was combined with Egypt in a military command. On their with drawal in the interests of economy, a Palestine gendarmerie was established, but this experiment not having met with success, a British cavalry regiment was sent back in 1924-5, but this has since been withdrawn, and in 1926 a Trans-Jordan frontier force of mounted riflemen was raised with an establishment of 782, in cluding 17 British and 23 local officers, and 15 British warrant officers, the other ranks being Muslim and Christian Arabs, Jews, Circassians, Druses, Egyptians, Sudanese and of other races. This force is administered by the Palestine Government, but, as in `Iraq, under control of the Royal Air Force commander. British regular officers are appointed for two years, with extensions. Estab lishment in the ranks is for three years. The mounted riflemen carry swords and lances for ceremonial only. There is also a police force of 1,750 (245 British) armed with rifles, but not liable for military service, under a British commandant.
See also Army List (official).
Placed on the edge of the partial desert that separates Asia from Africa, Palestine was from the beginning a halting place in the line of communication between the two. Monarchs of the old world seeking empire in Syria or in Egypt, and trade caravans passing from one country to the other, were alike bound to pause, before or after crossing the intervening wastes. Its relatively long and open coastline exposed it also towards the sea; while the desert tracks from Arabia, converging upon its frontiers to the East and South, were a further source of contact and infiltration. So that though primarily the pathway of greater nations, Palestine became from earliest times the meeting place of peoples varying in race and civilization, in religion and modes of life.