File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎56v] (121/834)

500 —
are most favourable for the vine cultivation ; and the grapes of
es-Salt are celebrated. The Jebel Osha, to the north of
es-Salt, is the highest point in all the country. From this
height one obtains a splendid view of the valley of the Jordan
and of Western Palestine. The numerous springs of es-Salt
give birth to a river which flows into the Jordan ; such is also
the case with the springs of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sir. One and a half
hours to the south of the village of this name on the right side
of the valley, one finds the ruins of Arak el-Emir (Tyros of the
historian Josephus), the renjains of a palace or temple and of a
village, and also some caverns in the mountain sides.
[Note by Arab Bureau.—This statement practically ignores
a large semi-settled Bedouin element whose numerical distribution
greatly alters the population figures, as given above : e.g. Kerak
and its immediate environs have, in reality, many more
inhabitants than es-Salt. The whole region is much better
peopled and cultivated than the above extract suggests.]
ARABIA.
North-West.
Intelligence.
Railway Operations.
(u) Southern Section .—In the whole of his recent fighting,
including that at Stabl Antar and that between Seil Matara ami
Zumurrud which lasted from November 27 to about December 3 .
Sherif Abdullah claims to have killed 250 Turks, and captured
ninety-three men with 300 rifles. He also claims to have destroyed
1,000 rails between Seil Matara and Zumurrud. A va^ue
unconfirmed report states that Aziz Effendi also has destroyed
600 rails between Hadiyah (otherwise called Hareimil) and Urn
Hasheim. We do not know whether the last named place is
north or south of the first.
(5) Northern Section.—We can now correct previous informa
tion about train demolitions in November. Only two trains
Avere destroyed, the first at Khirbet-es-Samra on the 11th (see
p. 490), the second near Jebel Hafira a few days later. The latter
tram was proceeding between Farafra and Menzil at about
7.30 a.m. The engine was destroyed, with its driver but the
fii eman escaped. A Furbish and a German officer Avere killed
trying to escape from the wreck. The train was carrying’ a
convoy of fifteen or twenty sick men, whom the Arabs left in
their waggons. Several waggons were destroyed, and three officers
and other prisoners Avere brought away. On the 17th Sbpi-if
Husein Shakrani (or, rather, Fat el-Moayad, who was the“
leader, supported by Sheikhs Suleiman 'and Trad o£ the Abu
Nueins section o£ the Beni Sakhr) broke a bridge near el-Hasa
and captured seventeen prisoners.