DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36287#0095
PALMYRA AND THE REGION OF THE HAURAN
69
lent water and an abundant supply is to be had there, but we did not find a trace of a
house, ancient or modern. An encampment of the Haddadin tribe, a better type of
nomad than those we had encountered hitherto, was established near the wells. The
men stood erect and were muscular. They were well disposed toward us but reported
that some members of the dangerous tribe of 'Anazeh, whom they appeared to fear,
were encamped at Isriyeh, our next stopping-place. A young man who was said to
be the of the whole tribe of Haddadin paid us a visit. He was bashful but
intelligent, and had an unusual amount of curiosity concerning us and our doings. He
inquired why the botanist gathered the Rowers and put them in presses. He also
wanted to know the reason for our visit to il-Khanasir. When we said we were inves-
tigating the remains of the ancient city, he asked what was its age. These Bedawin
seem well to do. The had two negro slaves, a man and a woman. One of the
nomads offered to sell the man to us for sixty pounds Turkishd
Some more Bedawin came to Mraghah before
we left next morning. On their camels were
picturesque contrivances consisting of long poles
which were put together so as to form huge
baskets,^ oblong in form, with the tops level,
and bottoms curved convexly. Thus the baskets
were deep in the middle and shallow at the ends.
The sides were straight and parallel to each
other. They measured eight or ten feet in
length and were placed across the camels backs. One of the "baskets" built upon a Bedawin camel's
Beads and shells were Strung around them in saddle. Photograph taken at Mraghah.
geometrical patterns, adding much to the appearance of the furnishings. In the
baskets were placed the tents and all the goods and chattels of the nomads, and
on top of and among these rode their wives and children.
An attempt was made to discover the source of the water in the wells of Mraghah.
It seems to flow underground from the direction of Isriyeh, but we were not able to
trace its course. The country between Mraghah and Isriyeh is level and the ground
is hard, but the jerboa or jumping-mouse has dug so many deep holes in the surface
that the horses and mules were frequently in danger of falling and breaking their legs.
We were fortunate, however, in escaping such a serious misadventure. In Khirbit Hadid,
which is nearly half way to Isriyeh, hardly one stone is left standing upon another.
We were not even able to decide whether it is the site of a ruin dating from the early
Christian centuries or a later period.
We reached Isriyeh soon after noon, having been less than five hours in the saddle.
i About two hundred and seventy-five dollars.
2 Cf. Oppenheim, Vo'm Mittelmeer zum Persischen Golf, II, p. 48, description and photograph.
69
lent water and an abundant supply is to be had there, but we did not find a trace of a
house, ancient or modern. An encampment of the Haddadin tribe, a better type of
nomad than those we had encountered hitherto, was established near the wells. The
men stood erect and were muscular. They were well disposed toward us but reported
that some members of the dangerous tribe of 'Anazeh, whom they appeared to fear,
were encamped at Isriyeh, our next stopping-place. A young man who was said to
be the of the whole tribe of Haddadin paid us a visit. He was bashful but
intelligent, and had an unusual amount of curiosity concerning us and our doings. He
inquired why the botanist gathered the Rowers and put them in presses. He also
wanted to know the reason for our visit to il-Khanasir. When we said we were inves-
tigating the remains of the ancient city, he asked what was its age. These Bedawin
seem well to do. The had two negro slaves, a man and a woman. One of the
nomads offered to sell the man to us for sixty pounds Turkishd
Some more Bedawin came to Mraghah before
we left next morning. On their camels were
picturesque contrivances consisting of long poles
which were put together so as to form huge
baskets,^ oblong in form, with the tops level,
and bottoms curved convexly. Thus the baskets
were deep in the middle and shallow at the ends.
The sides were straight and parallel to each
other. They measured eight or ten feet in
length and were placed across the camels backs. One of the "baskets" built upon a Bedawin camel's
Beads and shells were Strung around them in saddle. Photograph taken at Mraghah.
geometrical patterns, adding much to the appearance of the furnishings. In the
baskets were placed the tents and all the goods and chattels of the nomads, and
on top of and among these rode their wives and children.
An attempt was made to discover the source of the water in the wells of Mraghah.
It seems to flow underground from the direction of Isriyeh, but we were not able to
trace its course. The country between Mraghah and Isriyeh is level and the ground
is hard, but the jerboa or jumping-mouse has dug so many deep holes in the surface
that the horses and mules were frequently in danger of falling and breaking their legs.
We were fortunate, however, in escaping such a serious misadventure. In Khirbit Hadid,
which is nearly half way to Isriyeh, hardly one stone is left standing upon another.
We were not even able to decide whether it is the site of a ruin dating from the early
Christian centuries or a later period.
We reached Isriyeh soon after noon, having been less than five hours in the saddle.
i About two hundred and seventy-five dollars.
2 Cf. Oppenheim, Vo'm Mittelmeer zum Persischen Golf, II, p. 48, description and photograph.