DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36287#0057
fALMYRA AND THE REGION OF THE IdAURAN
35
Tedif is an unusual town because of the number and character of its houses,
because of the well-made streets with substantia! gutters, and because a number of
its inhabitants are Jews. Far away from a Jewish center, surrounded by Moham-
medans, in a region that is none too hospitable, these people retain their distinctive
characteristics and are prosperous. This is a place of pilgrimage for the Jews from
other communities, for it is believed that Ezra the Scribe sojourned here, perhaps
when he led the exiles back from Babylon to Jerusalem late in the fifth century n.c.,
and that he wrote his book of the law during this visitd The synagogue has two
Hebrew inscriptions of the fourteenth century embedded in its walls.^
Leaving Tedif the next morning, we followed a good road, with a deep ditch on
either side and a rounded surface, which leads toward the northeast. To right and
left were vineyards and groves of pomegranate, peach, and walnut trees. The soil
of the level plain crossed by the road is rich and its productiveness is increased by a
few carefully constructed irrigating ditches. Suddenly we passed out of this fertile
zone and into a peculiarly barren one. A little later we came to a district that we
were told is a portion of the " Sultan's land," or the crown-land of the Turkish
Empire, and there the soil is somewhat better. As we neared the Euphrates valley
it became extremely arid once more, and there the natives make no attempt to grow
anything. A strange object came into view that day. It was a high cart drawn by
small oxen and supported by two solid wooden wheels. Wheels of any sort are rare
in that country. Early in the afternoon we reached the site of our thirteenth encamp-
ment, just back of the diminutive village of 'Ambertchi. A few Bedawin had taken
up their abode in its substantial dwellings, seeking shelter from the winter rains and
taking advantage of the unusually good supply of water afforded by its deep well cut
in the solid rock. The surface of the water is about one hundred feet below the
well-curb.
On December ist we traveled on, and passing a number of small villages, after a
ride of some twelve miles we arrived at Membidj, or Bumbudj,^ an important settle-
ment inhabited to-day largely by Circassians who have wandered southward from
the Czar's dominions. This town is built on the site of ancient Ilierapolis,^ but there
are few stones from the ancient buildings now above ground to prove that its history
extends back many centuries. East of Membidj is a held in which the licorice plant
is cultivated. As we passed a large body of natives, most of them Bedawin women
from 'Abd it-Tamr, a near-by encampment, were digging up and gathering together
the roots of this plant and packing them on the backs of donkeys and camels to be
transported to the markets at Aleppo and Alexandretta.
t Ezra vii, etc.; C. F. Kent: History of the Jewish People, Mabbog or Manbog, and from this both Membidj and Bum-
Chapter ix, p. 194, etc. budj are derived.
2 See Part IV, p. 98. ^ Also the Greek Bombyke.
2 Probably the Assyrian Papahu. In Syriac its name was
35
Tedif is an unusual town because of the number and character of its houses,
because of the well-made streets with substantia! gutters, and because a number of
its inhabitants are Jews. Far away from a Jewish center, surrounded by Moham-
medans, in a region that is none too hospitable, these people retain their distinctive
characteristics and are prosperous. This is a place of pilgrimage for the Jews from
other communities, for it is believed that Ezra the Scribe sojourned here, perhaps
when he led the exiles back from Babylon to Jerusalem late in the fifth century n.c.,
and that he wrote his book of the law during this visitd The synagogue has two
Hebrew inscriptions of the fourteenth century embedded in its walls.^
Leaving Tedif the next morning, we followed a good road, with a deep ditch on
either side and a rounded surface, which leads toward the northeast. To right and
left were vineyards and groves of pomegranate, peach, and walnut trees. The soil
of the level plain crossed by the road is rich and its productiveness is increased by a
few carefully constructed irrigating ditches. Suddenly we passed out of this fertile
zone and into a peculiarly barren one. A little later we came to a district that we
were told is a portion of the " Sultan's land," or the crown-land of the Turkish
Empire, and there the soil is somewhat better. As we neared the Euphrates valley
it became extremely arid once more, and there the natives make no attempt to grow
anything. A strange object came into view that day. It was a high cart drawn by
small oxen and supported by two solid wooden wheels. Wheels of any sort are rare
in that country. Early in the afternoon we reached the site of our thirteenth encamp-
ment, just back of the diminutive village of 'Ambertchi. A few Bedawin had taken
up their abode in its substantial dwellings, seeking shelter from the winter rains and
taking advantage of the unusually good supply of water afforded by its deep well cut
in the solid rock. The surface of the water is about one hundred feet below the
well-curb.
On December ist we traveled on, and passing a number of small villages, after a
ride of some twelve miles we arrived at Membidj, or Bumbudj,^ an important settle-
ment inhabited to-day largely by Circassians who have wandered southward from
the Czar's dominions. This town is built on the site of ancient Ilierapolis,^ but there
are few stones from the ancient buildings now above ground to prove that its history
extends back many centuries. East of Membidj is a held in which the licorice plant
is cultivated. As we passed a large body of natives, most of them Bedawin women
from 'Abd it-Tamr, a near-by encampment, were digging up and gathering together
the roots of this plant and packing them on the backs of donkeys and camels to be
transported to the markets at Aleppo and Alexandretta.
t Ezra vii, etc.; C. F. Kent: History of the Jewish People, Mabbog or Manbog, and from this both Membidj and Bum-
Chapter ix, p. 194, etc. budj are derived.
2 See Part IV, p. 98. ^ Also the Greek Bombyke.
2 Probably the Assyrian Papahu. In Syriac its name was