"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٨‎٠] (٧٣٨/٣٦٤)

AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES
353
important industry. Large numbers are raised on the fine
pasturage of the Orontes valley of El-Ghab, and there the
marshy land is peculiarly suitable for rearing large herds of
buffaloes. The Bedouin in the eastern desert and Euphrates
valley are extensive stock-raisers, and they penetrate the
adjoining regions during the time of spring pasture. Spring
pasture is plentiful in the plains and in the northern areas
S. of Aleppo and Meskeneh. The district of Raqqah is one
of the finest stock-raising districts. In the neighbourhood
of Selemiyeh there is fine pasturage, chiefly along the stream
which flows from Barreh to the Orontes, and much stock is
raised. In the country between Seriyeh and Anderin there is
good pasturage which is much frequented by the Bedouin.
The following round figures give Cuinet’s estimates for
the sanjaq of Hama: cattle 12,000, buffaloes 8,000, horses
12.000, asses and mules 28,000, camels 2,700, sheep and goats
199.000. Poultry is raised universally and bee-keeping is
generally prevalent. There is no information upon which an
estimate can be based of the considerable amount of live-stock
raised in the northern districts under the sanjaq of Aleppo.
Wool. Aleppo, Hems, and Hama are the chief centres of
the wool trade and nearly all the produce from both sides of
the Euphrates is sold in these markets. With the approach
of spring, the nomads move, to summer quarters in the N.,
and during that period do business in the towns, bringing
with them large quantities of wool. The amount of greasy
wool purchased annually at Homs and Hama is estimated at
1.797.700 lbs. and 2,538,000 lbs. respectively (Weakley).
Semen. This is a kind of native butter brought by
the nomads to Aleppo and Hama which are the recognized
centres of the trade. It is packed in skins and sold in these
towns during April, May, and June. The quality brought
during this season is known as semen hadldi and the total
amount sold in normal years varies from 570 to 900 tons ;
after a season of good pasturage the yield is as much as
1.700 to 2,000 tons. About 40 to 45 per cent, of this amount
is disposed of in Hama, the value of which in a normal year
SYRIA Z