ACRE, 'Akka, or ST Jean D'Acre, the chief town of a governmental
district of Palestine which includes Haifa, Nazareth and Tiberias. It
stands on a low promontory at the northern extremity of the Bay of
Acre, 80 m. N. N.W. from Jerusalem, and 25 m. S. of Tyre. The
population is about 11,000; 8000 being Moslems, the remainder
Christians, Jews, &c. It was long regarded as the "Key of
Palestine," on account of its commanding position on the shore of the
broad plain that joins the inland plain of Esdraelon, and so affords
the easiest entrance to the interior of the country. But trade is now
passing over to Haifa, at the south side of the bay, as its harbour
offers a safer roadstead, and is a regular calling place for
steamers. Business, rapidly declining, is still carried on in wheat,
maize, oil, sesame, &c., in the town market. There are few
buildings of interest, owing to the frequent destructions the town
has undergone. The wall, which is now ruinous and has but one gate,
dates from the crusaders: the mosque was built by Jezzar Pasha (d.
1804) from materials taken from Caesarea Palaestina: his tomb is
within. Acre is the seat of the head of the Babist religion.
Continued on page two.
This article is from the 1911 edition of an
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