The
Inhabitants Cultivate Figs, Pomegranates, And Plums In Large Quantities,
But Do Not Sow Their Fields.
They purchase wheat from Kerek, which their
women grind; and at the passage of the Hadj they sell the flour as well
as their fruits to the pilgrims; which, is their means of subsistence.
They purchase articles of dress and luxury from Ghaza and El Khalil.
12. A long day’s journey to the castle of Akaba Esshamie [Arabic], or
the Syrian Akaba, so called in opposition to the Akaba el Masri or the
Egyptian Akaba which is on the eastern branch of the Red-sea, at one
day’s journey from the Akaba Esshamie; here is a Birket of rain-water.
The Hadj road, as far as Akaba, is a complete desert on both sides, yet
not incapable [p.659] of culture. The mountain chain continues at about
ten hours to the west of the Hadj route. Akaba is in the hands of the
Arabs el Howeytat [Arabic], who are in communication with Cairo. From
the foot of the castle walls the Hadj descends a deep chasm, and it
takes half an hour to reach the plain below. The pilgrims fear that
passage, and repeat this prayer before they descend; “May the Almighty
God be merciful to them who descend into the belly of the dragon”
[Arabic]. The mountain consists of a red gray sand stone, which is used
at Damascus for whetstones. There are many places where the stones are
full of small holes. When the pilgrims reach the bottom of the descent
they fire off their pistols for the sake of the echo. The mountain sinks
gradually, and is lost at a great distance in the plain, which is very
sandy.[FN#1]
13. Medawara [Arabic], one day’s journey, a castle with a Birket of
rainwater.
14. Dzat Hadj [Arabic], a castle surrounded by a great number of wells,
which are easily found on digging two or three feet. It has likewise a
Birket of rainwater. At four hours from it is a descent, rendered
difficult by the deep sand. It is called El Araie [Arabic], or Halat
Ammar [Arabic]; it was here that in the time of Daher el Omar, Pasha of
Acre, and of Osman, Pasha of Damascus, the Arabs Beni Szakher plundered
the Hadj in the year 1170 of the Hedjra (1757), the only example of such
an event in the last century. From Halat Ammar the plain is no longer
sandy, but covered with a white earth as far as Tebouk. The vicinity of
Dzat Hadj is covered with palm trees: but the trees being male, they
bear no fruit, and remain very low. The inhabitants sell the wood to the
Hadj.
15. One day from Dzat Hadj is Tebouk [Arabic], a castle, with a village
of Felahein, of the tribe of Arabs Hammeide. There is a copious source
of water, and gardens of fig and pomegranate trees, where Badintshaus
(egg plant), onions, and ether vegetables are also cultivated.
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