Volume 2

Jacob's Well 181
lying across the well. On it hung the bucket which was
unwound by means of a winch. Opposite the door was a
pump for raising the water to the top of the wall of the
springhouse, whence it flowed out to the east, south, and
west under the surrounding arches into three little basins
dug in the earth. They were intended for travellers to perform
their ablutions and wash their feet, also for watering
beasts of burden.
It was toward midday when Jesus and the three disciples
reached the hill. Jesus sent them on to Sichar to procure
food, for He was hungry, while He Himself ascended
the hill alone to await them. The day was hot, and Jesus
was very tired and thirsty. He sat down a short distance
from the well on the side of the path that led up from
Sichar. Resting His head upon His hand, He seemed to be
patiently waiting for someone to open the well and give
Him to drink. And now I saw a Samaritan woman of
about thirty years, a leathern bottle hanging on her arm,
coming up the hill from Sichar to draw water. She was
beautiful, and I remarked how briskly and vigorously, and
with what long strides she mounted the hill. Her costume
appeared somewhat studied, and there was an air of distinction
about it. Her dress was striped blue and red
embroidered with large yellow flowers; the sleeves above
and below the elbow were fastened by yellow bracelets,
and were ruffled at the wrist. She wore a white stomacher
ornamented with yellow cords. Her neck was entirely concealed
by a yellow woollen collar thickly covered with
strings of pearl and coral. Her veil, very fine and long,
was woven of some rich, woollen material. It hung down
her back, but by means of a string could be drawn
together and fastened around her waist. When thus worn,
it formed a point behind and on either side folds in which
the elbows could comfortably rest. When both sides of the
veil were fastened on the breast, the whole of the upper
part of her person was enveloped as if in a mantle. Her