Samaritans, Modern. As already stated (un- der Samaritan), a small remnant of i lie old nation still dwell in their ancient capital, Shechem. There existed a tradition among them, which has yet hardly died out, that large numbers of their brethren were dwelling in various parts of the world — in England, France, India, and elsewhere — and they have instituted inquiries from time to time in the hope of becoming acquainted with these their brethren. In past ages we do tiud them
SAMARITANS, MODERN" 302 SAMARITANS, MODERN
not only inhabitinj^ various cities in Palestine, but even in Egypt an<l C'Dnstaiitinople (El-Masudi, Hist. Encycl. i, 114; Rabbi Benjamin, Itinerary). Tlicy are now, however, confined to Nablus, the ancient Sliechem, and their sacred city through all ages. Here they live to- gether, Ghetto-like, on the south-western side of the town, at the very foot of Gerizim, their sacred mount. They have dwindled down to a very small number, consisting onh' of some forty families; and before many generations more have passed away, the ancient Samar- itan nation will have become extinct. In 1872 they numbered 135 souls, 80 of whom were males; by the defection of Jacob Shellaby and his family, they have been reduced to a total of 130 souls. Perhaps no people have been persecuted and oppressed from age to age more than they liave, yet it has served to knit them tlie more closely together. In appearance they are supe- rior to their circumstances, as also to all others around them — a straight and high forehead, full brow, large and rather almond-shaped eyes, aquiline nose, some- what large mouth, and well-formed chin are their chief physiological characteristics; and, with few exceptions, they are tall and of lofty bearing. If the present small community is a fair specimen of what their nation was in ancient times, they must have been a fine race.
A deep interest is attached to this people, not only because they are the oldest and smallest sect in the world, but principally because they retain the opinions, ceremonies, and habits of their forefathers, and are, like their Jewish brethren, a living evidence of the truth of Bible history, especially that of the Pentateuch. Our object will be, therefore, to give a summary account of all the principal features of their life and manners, as exhibited by these remaining votaries; and for this purpose we chietiy follow Mills's abridgment (in Fair- bairn's Dictinnari/) of his larger account (Three Months in Xahlus, Loud. 186-1).
1. Domestic Life and Duties. — 1. Circumcision. — The first and most important is to admit the male child into the Abrahamic covenant by circumcision. This cere- mony must be performed on the eighth day, even should that be the Sabbath, as it was undoubtedly the practice of the Jews of old (John vii, 22) ; and not in the syn- agogue, but always in the house of the parents. "The performance of the rite devolves upon the priest; but should he happen to be absent, any one acquainted with the mode of operating ma}' do it. During the celebra- tion of the ceremony the name of the child is annotuiced, as of old (Luke i, 59), and, when over, they celebrate it (as tlic Jews do) by a feast, enlivened by Arab music and singing. If the child be female, the only observ- ance is that of naming, which takes place on the third day at the parents' house, without any particular rite or gathering of friends, the priest simply announcing it in the hearing of those who may happen to be present. Formerly, thej' used to redeem the first-born child, as the Jews still do, according to the commandment (Exod. xiii, 13), but now the ceremony is discontinued on ac- count of the poverty of their people.
2. M(irri(i</e. — Like most Easterns, the Samaritans have a strong desire for offspring, a feeling which is probably intensified by the paucity of their number. This, together with an early (levelopment in such a cli- mate, leads them, like all their neighbors, to marry at a very early age, the males being eligible at fourteen and the females at ten years of age. But they never inter- marry with persons of another creed, whether circum- cised or uncircumrised ; and never marry I)ut on a Thursday, this in their estimation being a pecidiarly propitious day. Tiiey have no betrotliing, and the mar- riage rite is very simple. Upon the appointed day, two men who are witnesses of the agreement conduct the bride and licr friends at midday to the bridegroom's house, where the ceremony is performed bv tlie priest. The service is in Hebrew — an unknown tongue to those most concerned — and consists of portions of tlie law in- terspersed with certain prayers; and the marriage agree-
ment is read, by which the young bridegroom has to pay a fixed dowry to the father of the bride. In the evening a feast is made, followed by music, singing, and dancing, performed, however, not by themselves, but by hired IMussulmans. Here we may observe that they are not given to polygamy. There is nothing in their theology prohibiting it, but this virtue has grown upon them from necessity, on account of the unequal distri- bution of the sexes. Their present rule, and one which has existed for some ages past, is that any one may take an additional wife if the first wife be willing, but on that condition only.