'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.' [‎627] (724/905)

CHAP. XXIV.]
JOF-ES-SYRHAN.
627
years in it, during which time the defenders have been entirely,
and the invaders partially, supplied by it with provisions. 1 The
principal groups of mountains are Jeb-el-A'arid, or I'maryeh. Mountains of
which traverses the centre of the territory from N.E. to S.W. the P rovince =
The range called Jeb-el-Tueyk runs from the former extremity
in a north-westerly direction; beyond this is Jeb-el-Shammar,
with the elevated peaks of Aja, or Edja, and Solma; and
westward are the mountains of El Kassym and Jeb-el-Tai.
The wadis and streams are proportionably numerous. Except
along the routes of M. Reinan and Captain Sadleir in the
central parts, the interior and the subdivisions of this extensive
tract are but partially known.
At the north-western extremity of the territory is the coun- Principal town
try of Jof, or J6f-es-Syrhan, the hollow or low country, which ()f the district "
contains a cluster of seven or eight villages, at about ten
minutes' distance from one another, and each is denominated
Suk, or market. Dournet-el-Joudol is the principal place,
and it has the castle of Sebeki-Kara on the east; Teima is the
second, and this also has a castle. The houses are of sun-
dried bricks, roofed with palm or date branches, and each suk
is surrounded by a garden of palms, locally called houta.
Each garden contains a deep well, from which the water is
raised by camels. Some wheat is cultivated in this district,
which contains the river Baai'rad and two remarkable springs,
one called Ai'n-el-Temer, or the fountain of dates, and the
other issuing from a block of marble. 2
The inhabitants of this tract make boots, sword-hilts, horse
shoes, lance-heads, &c., which, as well as their dates, they sell
to the other Arabs. There is an ancient and lofty tower Ancient tower,
rising in steps like a pyramid from a square base, till it ends
almost in a point; it has three floors and as many flights of
steps leading from one to the other. Three hours S.E. from
hence commences the sandy plain of Edd-hahi, covered with
coarse grass and a tree called ghada, in which are wild dogs
and cows, the latter resembling the domestic animal. 3
1 Ibrdhim Pdsha was eight months before Der'ayyah.—Captain Sadleir,
Bombay Lit. Soc., vol. III., p. 473. 2 Von Hammer Purgstall, art. III.
3 Burckhardt's Travels in Syria, Appendix, p. 664.
4 L 2