DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36287#0082
5§
TOPOGRAPHY OF NORTHERN CENTRAL SYRIA.
The Djebcl Riha is not so precipitous as is the Djebel il-A'la, but in spite of this fact
there is not a great deal more cultivable soil on it. The rains of many centuries have
washed the surface soil away and have left bare the rough gray limestone rocks. The
patches of soil between the rocks were carpeted with wild dowers of many varieties
and colors. They grow in profusion throughout Syria in spring. Birds and wild animals
are not numerous in these mountains, but we saw a few of the beautiful partridges
which I have already spoken of ^ and caught glimpses of some gazelles and a rabbit.
At night we often heard the weird cry of the jackal.
Several days were occupied in visiting ruins not far from il-Barah and in making a
. rapid survey of the neighborhood. The task that perhaps occupied most of our time
here was hammering out with small brushes a "squeeze" or paper impression of the
beautiful lintel of the doorway of a tomb in Kefr il-Barah.^ The people of this region
were for the most part friendly, but some mischief-makers who came to Serdjilla while
we were there tried to hinder us by urging some of the men who were helping us not
to work for Christians.
A little excitement was caused one day by a report that the people of Hass had con-
fiscated two hundred head of cattle belonging to the people of il-Barah. The men of
this village proceeded to collect guns and other weapons and to advance toward the
enemy. They "marched" without any semblance of order in their ranks. The
trouble quickly and mysteriously subsided, however, without any bloodshed. The exact
boundary between the lands under the
control of each of these villages is not
defined, and this dispute was caused by
an il-Barah herdsman pasturing his cattle
in territory claimed by Hass.
On the way to Riha on April qth we
rode through large groves of olive and
almond trees. The land between Tell
Nebi Aiyub and Riha is more fertile
than that of the rest of this region. Some
of the natives we met that day illustrated
well the place held by women in Syria.
A pretty girl of about fourteen years was carrying on her head a great basket full of
herbs which she had gathered in the fields. Just in front of her was a lad of sixteen
with nothing either on his head or in his hands. Again, a man was walking along
the road leading a small child by the hand, while trudging behind was his prematurely
old wife carrying a great bundle on her head. I heard of another man who was pon-
dering over the trying problem as to whether he should spend his hard-earned
iSee p. 16. 2 Part II, p. 244.
Court of a ruined house, in Kfersun. Olive trees
are growing beside the colonnade.
TOPOGRAPHY OF NORTHERN CENTRAL SYRIA.
The Djebcl Riha is not so precipitous as is the Djebel il-A'la, but in spite of this fact
there is not a great deal more cultivable soil on it. The rains of many centuries have
washed the surface soil away and have left bare the rough gray limestone rocks. The
patches of soil between the rocks were carpeted with wild dowers of many varieties
and colors. They grow in profusion throughout Syria in spring. Birds and wild animals
are not numerous in these mountains, but we saw a few of the beautiful partridges
which I have already spoken of ^ and caught glimpses of some gazelles and a rabbit.
At night we often heard the weird cry of the jackal.
Several days were occupied in visiting ruins not far from il-Barah and in making a
. rapid survey of the neighborhood. The task that perhaps occupied most of our time
here was hammering out with small brushes a "squeeze" or paper impression of the
beautiful lintel of the doorway of a tomb in Kefr il-Barah.^ The people of this region
were for the most part friendly, but some mischief-makers who came to Serdjilla while
we were there tried to hinder us by urging some of the men who were helping us not
to work for Christians.
A little excitement was caused one day by a report that the people of Hass had con-
fiscated two hundred head of cattle belonging to the people of il-Barah. The men of
this village proceeded to collect guns and other weapons and to advance toward the
enemy. They "marched" without any semblance of order in their ranks. The
trouble quickly and mysteriously subsided, however, without any bloodshed. The exact
boundary between the lands under the
control of each of these villages is not
defined, and this dispute was caused by
an il-Barah herdsman pasturing his cattle
in territory claimed by Hass.
On the way to Riha on April qth we
rode through large groves of olive and
almond trees. The land between Tell
Nebi Aiyub and Riha is more fertile
than that of the rest of this region. Some
of the natives we met that day illustrated
well the place held by women in Syria.
A pretty girl of about fourteen years was carrying on her head a great basket full of
herbs which she had gathered in the fields. Just in front of her was a lad of sixteen
with nothing either on his head or in his hands. Again, a man was walking along
the road leading a small child by the hand, while trudging behind was his prematurely
old wife carrying a great bundle on her head. I heard of another man who was pon-
dering over the trying problem as to whether he should spend his hard-earned
iSee p. 16. 2 Part II, p. 244.
Court of a ruined house, in Kfersun. Olive trees
are growing beside the colonnade.