'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.' [‎511] (600/905)

CHAP. XX.]
EL MEZAREIB.
513
these districts from a remote period, 1 and many of them con- Arabs of the
tinue half nomadic, sometimes dwelling in simple tents of goat's- dl8trict -
hair, supported by four low sticks or poles, but more frequently
in the villages or on the ancient sites of the Jebel Haouran,
and other places which are provided with cisterns. The
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Damascus intrusts the local government to the
Druse Sheikhs, but they endeavour to appease rather than
control the Bedawins, and the plains become in consequence
common property. From May to September especially, they
are covered with the El Fuhaily, the Es Sudiyeh, the El Aisy,
the Beni Szakher, the Serhhan, 2 the Hammame, the Aniza,
and other tribes of Arabs.
Towards the northern extremity of this wide-spreading plain ei Mezarieb,
are the villages of Ghabarieb, Didy, and Ba'al Me'on, now or Ashtaroth -
called Es Szananamein, or the Images. 3 The first has a
ruined castle and reservoir, and the last, which is of consi
derable extent, contains the ruins of several buildings, also two
square towers, and some Greek inscriptions y Nearer the-
centre are El Harra, Om-el-Mezabel, the town of Eshmiskin,
or Shemskein, which has a bridge, and is of some extent, being
considered the second place in the Haouran. A little way
towards the interior is El Mezareib, the ancient Ashtaroth ; 4
south of which is Susim, or Sisim. 5 Mezareib contains a
number of springs, and is considered the third place in the
Haouran; but it is more remarkable as the first halting-place
of the Mekkah caravans, and for the warehouses contained in
the castle; to which are annually sent ample supplies of
wheat, barley, biscuit, rice, tobacco, horse furniture, and am
munition, all separately kept for the use of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and his
suite when taking charge of the pilgrims.
South-westward are El Hereyik, El Herak, Melihat-el- Remtha, or
Ghazale, Daara, and Tell Hussein ; and, southward, Eleneh Amathus -
and Remtha. 6 The last contains about 100 houses, each
partly a cavern; and it occupies several calcareous hills: in
1 Burckhardt's Travels in Syria, p. 305. s Ibid., pp. 306, 301.
3 Dr. Zunz on the Geography of Palestine, p. 405.
4 Colonel Leake's Preface to Burckh., p. xii. 5 Ibid., 407. 6 Ibid., 407.