care was exercised: it was laid down that the site must show traces of antiquity; it must be known to the natives under its original name, or a modification of that name; its position must suit the known accounts of the place; and the measured distances must lend confirmation.
The new map was to include every object that has a name, and the name itself was to be correctly given. But here was a difficulty. How are names to be accurately ascertained in Palestine? The natives are perverse, or they suspect you of designs against their country, and they purposely mislead you. On the other hand, they are obliging, and if you express a hope that you have found a Scripture site, which you name, they will confirm your impression that it is so. Or it may be that you yourself are deficient in Arabic, and after being at the greatest pains to inquire the name of a site, find that the name you have noted down signifies "a heap of stones." A story is told of a European traveller who asked his guide the name of a place, and received the reply—Mabarafsh. Carefully marking it on the sketch-map of his route, he by-and-bye inquired concerning a second site which he did not recognise, and received the same reply—Mabarafsh! Of course it is possible that names should be repeated, as in England we have several Newports, Nortons, and Hamptons; but Mabarafsh actually means, "I don't know!" A wise suggestion was made that travellers and surveyors should always get the sheikh of the village to write down the name correctly in Arabic; but, unfortunately, only one sheikh in ten can write at all, and he cannot spell correctly.
The plan adopted by the Survey party was one which guarded as far as possible against all mistakes. It is described by Major Conder in "Tent Work," where he speaks as follows of his inquiries in the neighbourhood of Hebron. "My party now consisted of three non-commissioned officers; and Lieutenant Kitchener was expected to join me in about
