James S. Browning (nonfiction): Difference between revisions
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* [[War Diaries (April 24) (nonfiction)|War Diaries (April 24)]] | * [[War Diaries (April 24) (nonfiction)|War Diaries (April 24)]] | ||
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<blockquote> | |||
The population as in all Arab countries is sharply divided into two classes, the rich and the poor. The rich strive desperately to hold and increase their riches meanwhile stamping further into the mud the poor who seem to be too indolent to do anything for themselves beyond keeping themselves from actually starving. At least half of a town's population follows the begging profession in some form or another with the ever-present cry of 'backsheesh'. | |||
In the country villages, ideas seem to be much more communistic and the people much more independent within their own circles. They live in tight little walled villages of mud lovels and they pool their goats and sheep into one flock looked after by the same goatherds who somehow or other find enough vegetation to keep their flocks alive, though they may move them many miles from one grazing point to another. For an acre or so around, their water point they crudely plough the land and grow a few vegetables for their own use. The surplus goats with an ass or two they may have reared, are taken to town every so often and sold, the men trusted with the selling bring back commodities required in the village especially tea for the Arab is a great and inveterate chai drinker. The tea leaves he puts in a little strainer and holding it over a little glass already at least a quarter full of sugar, he pours the boiling water through it. Second in popularity to tea is Turkish coffee, which they make by boiling a little water in a small metal jug which has a long handle for holding it over the flame. When the water boils enormous quantities of coffee grinds and sugar are added and the whole kept boiling for a few minutes. When it is served in tiny cups there are only a couple of sips above the sediment which half fills the cup. Even with plenty of sugar it is slightly bitter and I am sure that a few cups of this coffee would leave one in quite a drugged condition. | |||
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* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/02/a3479402.shtml] | |||
== Source == | == Source == | ||
* https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/user/49/u1233849.shtml WW2 People's War] @ BBC | |||
[[Category:War Diaries (nonfiction)]] | [[Category:War Diaries (nonfiction)]] | ||
Revision as of 06:54, 6 May 2020
James Smith Browning was a British Flight Sergeant / Radio Specialist during World War II.
Smith kept a diary during the war; he later made this available to the WW2 People's War series on the BBC.
See War Diaries.
Diary entries
Excepts
The population as in all Arab countries is sharply divided into two classes, the rich and the poor. The rich strive desperately to hold and increase their riches meanwhile stamping further into the mud the poor who seem to be too indolent to do anything for themselves beyond keeping themselves from actually starving. At least half of a town's population follows the begging profession in some form or another with the ever-present cry of 'backsheesh'.
In the country villages, ideas seem to be much more communistic and the people much more independent within their own circles. They live in tight little walled villages of mud lovels and they pool their goats and sheep into one flock looked after by the same goatherds who somehow or other find enough vegetation to keep their flocks alive, though they may move them many miles from one grazing point to another. For an acre or so around, their water point they crudely plough the land and grow a few vegetables for their own use. The surplus goats with an ass or two they may have reared, are taken to town every so often and sold, the men trusted with the selling bring back commodities required in the village especially tea for the Arab is a great and inveterate chai drinker. The tea leaves he puts in a little strainer and holding it over a little glass already at least a quarter full of sugar, he pours the boiling water through it. Second in popularity to tea is Turkish coffee, which they make by boiling a little water in a small metal jug which has a long handle for holding it over the flame. When the water boils enormous quantities of coffee grinds and sugar are added and the whole kept boiling for a few minutes. When it is served in tiny cups there are only a couple of sips above the sediment which half fills the cup. Even with plenty of sugar it is slightly bitter and I am sure that a few cups of this coffee would leave one in quite a drugged condition.
Source
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/user/49/u1233849.shtml WW2 People's War] @ BBC