'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎507] (596/905)

CHAP. XX.]
JEBEL HAOURAN.
507
Southward of the Loehf is Jebel Haouran, and westward Extent of Jebei
of the latter the more extensive country of Belad Haouran, Haouran -
The former is a mountainous tract which extends from Tell-
maas southward for a distance of about 30 miles to Szaalkhat,
and again from Soneida eastward to the hills beyond Zaele,
a distance of about 18 miles, the highest ground being near
Kelb, or Keileib Haouran. 1 It is traversed in different direc
tions by numerous rounded valleys separating rocky ridges,
whose northern and western slopes are thinly wooded, the rest
of their surface being bare. One of these is watered by the
Moiet Maaz, which flows eastward from Kelb Haouran and
then south-westward along the foot of the mountains, into the
plain near Bozra; but the principal water-courses flow west
ward. Towards the north is Nahr Kanouat, which, as already
noticed, waters the Loehf, and nearly in the centre are the two
branches of the Nahr Nedam; the northern of which flows
from Ain-el-Merdj by Soneida into the southern branch
coming from Kuffer. The trunk thus formed winds westward,
till near the extremity of the plain it is joined by a tributary
coming from the vicinity of Aaere; and these together 2
form the principal branch of the Jarmuk, or Sheriat- The Jamuk.
el-Mandhier. These mountains are almost entirely occupied
by branches of the Druses, and the plains westward by the
Bedawins. The former live in villages and towns chiefly con
taining clay-built dwellings, constructed near or upon the
sites of ancient cities ; and although the buildings are humble,
they appear to be neat and cleanly.
The Bedawins vary in number from 80 to 200 families, or
more, who occupy ancient houses of the description already
given ; they rarely contain more than a single apartment, and
the number of these ruined towns show that this tract was at
one time thickly peopled.
On the flanks of this tract are the towns of Sueida and
Zaele; the latter is situated on the slope at the commence-
1 Probably Mount Alsadaxnus of Ptolemy, lib. V., chap xv.; and the intro
duction by Col. Leake (p. xii.) to Burckhardt's Travels in Syria.
8 See page 401.
3 T 2