DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36287#0049
27
PALMYRA AND THE REGION OF THE HAURAN
On November 22b the work was again stopped by rain. One member of the party
took advantage of this free day to go around the southern end of the Djebel Barisha
and visit the ruin of 'Allata. The way led through two villages in which are some
ruins, but nothing was discovered of sufficient value to warrant a return to any of these
places. At Harbanush that day a native brought to the camp a bronze spear-head of
Roman origin, which we purchased for a small sum.
On Thursday, the 23d, the final work of the autumn in the Djebel Barisha was com-
pleted. This involved revisiting Der Seta and Bankusa. Two of us also went to il-
Bireh, and then galloped rapidly out into the level plain to the Druse village of Mar-
tahwan. The distance out and back to camp was about live miles, and we were on the
road only about half an hour. We stopped for a few moments beside the tomb of a
in Martahwan, while Dr. Littmann read the inscriptions on some Moslem tomb-
stones. Just then two girls came out of the tomb inclosure, carrying small vessels
for oil. It was their duty to keep a light burning perpetually before the shrine that
had been erected there.
On November 24th we finally left this region, so full of architectural treasures, and
commenced a long ride northeastward through the broad plain. From this day until
the end of our first journey we traveled rapidly and had to work hurriedly. At first
the weather was bad, but after two days or so it cleared up in a measure. While we
were on the way to Kefr Kermin the rain came down steadily. The mud was exceed-
ingly heavy and made traveling difficult for the horses and pack-animals. As we ap-
proached Kiftin the head men of the village came out to greet us. This is one of the
largest of the Druse villages in the north country.
At Hazanu we came suddenly upon a small Bedawin encampment in which were a
few camels, the first we had seen since leaving Antioch. It would not be possible
for these animals to travel over the paths upon which we had had to depend during
our stay in the mountains. About four miles northeast of Hazanu, rising abruptly
above the plain, is Tell Nauwas. We were impressed with the appearance of this hill
and concluded that it must have been the site of an ancient city long since crumbled
to dust or completely covered up. The only trace of a building was a row of huge
boulders, but they were too much weathered to give any indication of the use they
had been put to in some early age.
Many natives were plowing in the plain in preparation for the autumn sowing.
They guided their primitive plows and diminutive cattle with great dexterity. The
plain was not divided into small fields, but each plowman plowed on and on until his
furrow was perhaps a mile in length. The divisions between the fields were difficult
to see. Beyond Tell Nauwas we traveled by an undefined path, but except for the
mud, we had no difficulty in going straight to our destination. We met along the
way a group of about fifteen Circassians, who were heading toward Damascus. They
PALMYRA AND THE REGION OF THE HAURAN
On November 22b the work was again stopped by rain. One member of the party
took advantage of this free day to go around the southern end of the Djebel Barisha
and visit the ruin of 'Allata. The way led through two villages in which are some
ruins, but nothing was discovered of sufficient value to warrant a return to any of these
places. At Harbanush that day a native brought to the camp a bronze spear-head of
Roman origin, which we purchased for a small sum.
On Thursday, the 23d, the final work of the autumn in the Djebel Barisha was com-
pleted. This involved revisiting Der Seta and Bankusa. Two of us also went to il-
Bireh, and then galloped rapidly out into the level plain to the Druse village of Mar-
tahwan. The distance out and back to camp was about live miles, and we were on the
road only about half an hour. We stopped for a few moments beside the tomb of a
in Martahwan, while Dr. Littmann read the inscriptions on some Moslem tomb-
stones. Just then two girls came out of the tomb inclosure, carrying small vessels
for oil. It was their duty to keep a light burning perpetually before the shrine that
had been erected there.
On November 24th we finally left this region, so full of architectural treasures, and
commenced a long ride northeastward through the broad plain. From this day until
the end of our first journey we traveled rapidly and had to work hurriedly. At first
the weather was bad, but after two days or so it cleared up in a measure. While we
were on the way to Kefr Kermin the rain came down steadily. The mud was exceed-
ingly heavy and made traveling difficult for the horses and pack-animals. As we ap-
proached Kiftin the head men of the village came out to greet us. This is one of the
largest of the Druse villages in the north country.
At Hazanu we came suddenly upon a small Bedawin encampment in which were a
few camels, the first we had seen since leaving Antioch. It would not be possible
for these animals to travel over the paths upon which we had had to depend during
our stay in the mountains. About four miles northeast of Hazanu, rising abruptly
above the plain, is Tell Nauwas. We were impressed with the appearance of this hill
and concluded that it must have been the site of an ancient city long since crumbled
to dust or completely covered up. The only trace of a building was a row of huge
boulders, but they were too much weathered to give any indication of the use they
had been put to in some early age.
Many natives were plowing in the plain in preparation for the autumn sowing.
They guided their primitive plows and diminutive cattle with great dexterity. The
plain was not divided into small fields, but each plowman plowed on and on until his
furrow was perhaps a mile in length. The divisions between the fields were difficult
to see. Beyond Tell Nauwas we traveled by an undefined path, but except for the
mud, we had no difficulty in going straight to our destination. We met along the
way a group of about fifteen Circassians, who were heading toward Damascus. They